Marocaine Ste de Therapeutique (Sothema), a Moroccan pharmaceutical group led by pharma mogul Lamia Tazi, has acquired a stake in Ziwig, a French startup that is revolutionizing medical diagnostics with ultra-advanced, dependable, and accessible devices for healthcare professionals.
The group stated that the partnership with Ziwig will undoubtedly have an impact on both parties’ development, particularly in the European market, where Ziwig’s revolutionary device, the Ziwig Endotest, is widely distributed and used to provide hope to millions of women suffering from pelvic pain.
“We are proud to announce this partnership, which confirms our historic commitment to innovation and R&D, a move that has materialized in successful projects such as the local production of anti-Covid 19 tests and the launch of a production unit for medical devices,” Tazi, CEO of Sothema, said in a statement announcing the transaction.
Tazi, who owns a significant 8.4-percent stake in Sothema, added that the collaboration with Ziwig aligns with the Moroccan group’s commitment to fighting diseases by being Africa’s first laboratory to produce innovative and affordable anti-cancer biosimilars.
Ziwig is one of the companies that has been able to leverage the potential of RNA technology to create innovative solutions to health problems. This technology aided in the fight against the COVID-19 crisis by enabling a sophisticated and rapid therapeutic response via vaccines.
The technology is also widely used in a variety of experimental, preventive, and curative treatments, such as cancer vaccines, and its product pipeline includes innovative diagnostic devices for a wide range of serious diseases.
The acquisition of a stake in the French startup is consistent with Sothema’s expansion strategy, as the pharmaceutical group enters a new phase of growth through various diversification activities aimed at leveraging opportunities in national and international markets and building on its well-diversified operations in Africa and the Middle East.
About three months ago, the Moroccan pharmaceutical group announced plans to open offices in Central Africa as part of a strategic development drive to meet the group’s international growth targets.
