Morocco is building a new contraceptive hormone production facility in Benslimane with backing from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
The project is led by Marbio, which has announced a 700-square-metre industrial unit designed to meet international quality and safety standards. The facility will focus on producing modern contraceptive hormones aimed at low and middle-income countries, where access to reproductive healthcare remains limited.
The site is located in Benslimane, an area being developed as part of Morocco’s wider push to grow its pharmaceutical industry. The location is intended to support easier transport links and lower costs for distributing medical products across Africa and beyond.
Funding support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is part of its global health strategy to improve access to essential medicines. The focus is on making treatments more available and affordable in regions with high unmet medical needs.
Marbio managing director Mark Funk said the project is not only about manufacturing, but also about building skills and local knowledge. He said training and technology transfer will help Moroccan staff develop expertise in advanced hormone production.
The facility will produce what are described as next-generation contraceptive hormones, designed to be effective at lower doses and with fewer side effects. This type of production requires high precision and strict clean room conditions, moving Morocco further into advanced drug manufacturing rather than basic processing.
Global health data shows that more than 200 million women in developing regions still lack access to modern contraception. The new facility aims to help ease supply shortages, particularly in parts of sub-Saharan Africa where access is often inconsistent.
The project is also expected to support long-term growth in Morocco’s pharmaceutical sector by developing skilled workers and attracting further investment, strengthening the country’s position in the regional health industry.
