On May 27, 2025, at the French Embassy in Hanoi, Servier, one of France’s leading independent pharmaceutical groups, signed a technology transfer agreement with Ampharco U.S.A, a Vietnamese pharmaceutical company.
Servier, France’s leading independent pharmaceutical group, has transferred the technology to produce original brand medicines to Ampharco. Photo: DNCC
From national strategy to tangible action by foreign investors
Under the agreement, Servier will transfer technology for five original brand medicines used to treat chronic diseases such as diabetes, coronary artery disease, and venous insufficiency—conditions that increasingly threaten public health in Vietnam.
This move aligns with Vietnam’s long-term pharmaceutical development strategy. According to the National Strategy for Pharmaceutical Development to 2030, with a vision to 2045 (Decision 376/QĐ-TTg), the government has set the goal of producing at least 80% of medicines consumed domestically, including 100 original brand medicines manufactured locally through technology transfer.
Achieving this goal requires genuine partnerships between local enterprises and international groups—not only in distribution, but also in knowledge transfer and mastering advanced technologies.
With over 30 years of operations in Vietnam and a portfolio serving more than three million patients annually, Servier has become a pioneer among pharmaceutical companies pursuing a long-term investment strategy in the country.
Choosing technology transfer—rather than continuing with a pure import-and-distribution model—reflects a forward-looking policy alignment and demonstrates confidence in the capacity of Vietnam’s pharmaceutical sector.
Mr. Serge Nicollerat, General Director of Servier Vietnam, affirmed: “The government’s vision and the policy of localizing original brand medicines are key reasons why we chose Vietnam for this pioneering step in the ASEAN region.”
Capacity to receive high-value technology
Transferring original brand medicine technology—products of high economic and technical value—requires the Vietnamese partner to meet stringent standards. Ampharco is among the very few domestic companies with the proven capability to meet these requirements.
Founded in 1969, Ampharco has built a closed pharmaceutical ecosystem covering research, manufacturing, distribution, and marketing. More importantly, in March 2025, its manufacturing facility in Nhon Trach Industrial Park, Dong Nai Province, received EU-GMP certification—the highest pharmaceutical production standard applied in Europe.
This certification was a critical requirement that enabled Servier to confidently transfer original brand medicine technology directly to Vietnam.
Ampharco, with its EU-GMP certification, meets the highest pharmaceutical manufacturing standards applied in Europe - Photo: DNCC
Ampharco will not only undertake contract manufacturing but also operate the entire production process under Servier’s technical supervision, ensuring that medicines produced in Vietnam meet the same standards as those in Europe.
Once the program is underway, Ampharco is expected to manufacture around 50% of the Servier original brand medicines consumed in Vietnam, with the first product anticipated by late 2026.
Beyond its economic significance, the partnership will build long-term capacity within Vietnam’s domestic pharmaceutical workforce. Direct training in production and quality management processes from a European group will enhance professional capacity and enable deeper integration into the global pharmaceutical supply chain.
Patients will be the first to benefit from local production of brand medicines. Despite global inflationary pressures, medicine prices can be kept at more reasonable levels for hospitals, improving patient accessibility to original brand medicines.
Local production will also reduce supply chain risks and expand the range of drugs covered by health insurance. At the same time, reducing imports from Europe will lower CO₂ emissions, contributing to environmental sustainability.
The collaboration between Servier and Ampharco is not only a landmark for the pharmaceutical industry; it also demonstrates the commitment of foreign investors to partner with the Vietnamese government in realizing long-term public health strategies.
When government commitments meet domestic enterprise capacity—reinforced by genuine technology transfer from international partners—Vietnam’s pharmaceutical sector has the potential to rise as one of the region’s leading hubs for pharmaceutical manufacturing and innovation in the years to come.
Source:
https://tuoitre.vn/tap-doan-duoc-pham-phap-ky-chuyen-giao-cong-nghe-voi-ampharco-20250609161332546.htm?gidzl=cV-aAfNutdcVuQOjaE_PTvpge269wOecWkpwVOpZrIo0vAz_Z-A0AzRjgthVkT0fqR_wBpGxDqbZaFlSUG