Moroccan deal for Namur company

Probiotic specialist Vésale Pharma has signed a partnership agreement with Moroccan pharmaceutical company Bottu, which is present in 15 African countries.

The agreement involves the distribution, marketing and scientific promotion of four of the Namur-based company’s products, used in the treatment of obesity and cardiovascular diseases.

An initial sum of €600,000 is being paid to the Moroccan company. The launch of the first Vésale products by Bottu is expected at the end of the year.

“This agreement represents a wonderful opportunity for Vésale Pharma and a major first on the African continent,” said founder and CEO Johan Liénart.

“Until now, we haven’t really been present there in a structured way. With this contract, it’s not only the Moroccan market that will be opening up to us, but also later on, the whole sub-Saharan market.”

The company, which invests intensively in research and development, holds worldwide patents.

It recently discovered, along with the Pasteur Institute of Lille, that one of its probiotic strains could dramatically reduce the risk of severe weight gain.