Kazakhstan Approves Major Full-Cycle Biopharma Project

Kazakhstan is set to implement a large-scale strategic investment project in line with the President’s directive to raise the share of domestically produced pharmaceuticals to 50%.

The corresponding resolution has been signed by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, The Caspian Post reports, citing Kazakh media.

The resolution approves an investment agreement between the Ministry of Healthcare and Khan Tengri Biopharma LLP for the construction of a modern, full-cycle pharmaceutical manufacturing complex within the Alatau Special Economic Zone (SEZ).

The new facility will be outfitted with advanced technologies and is expected to produce 58 types of medications. One of the project’s primary goals is to establish a full-cycle production system, including the local manufacturing of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs).

According to the government press service, the plant's portfolio will feature 27 international non-proprietary names (INNs), including drugs for treating cancer, autoimmune disorders, rare diseases, and inflammatory conditions. The project involves a total investment of over 103 billion tenge and is expected to create more than 180 permanent jobs.

The project holds strategic importance for Kazakhstan’s pharmaceutical industry, focusing on expanding local production, building a resilient manufacturing base, and achieving phased import substitution of socially significant medicines. Additionally, a portion of the output is intended for export to markets across the EAEU, CIS, and the Middle East.