When GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) exited Nigeria in late 2023, it left a major gap in the country’s pharmaceutical supply chain. One of the most affected products was Augmentin, GSK’s well-known brand of amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium. The antibiotic had long been a household name for treating bacterial infections.
After GSK’s exit, Nigeria turned almost entirely to imports to meet demand. Prices quickly spiralled. A pack of Augmentin 625 mg, previously sold for between N3,000 and N4,000, surged to as high as N25,000 in some pharmacies. Imported substitutes followed the same path. Fleming 625, made by Sanofi, rose from N3,000 to N7,000. It currently sells between N12,000 and N14,000 per pack.
As prices soared, Mecure Industries saw an opportunity. The Lagos-based pharmaceutical company announced plans to manufacture the amoxicillin–clavulanate combination locally. Its move came at a time when Nigeria faced rising import costs, especially in the antibiotic OTC division.