ProductLife Group inaugurates new hub in Casablanca, placing Artificial Intelligence at the core of its Life Sciences strategy

Casablanca, 18 September 2025 – ProductLife Group (PLG), a global consulting and outsourcing partner for the life sciences industry, has inaugurated its new regional office in Casablanca. This strategic launch positions Morocco as the Group’s African hub, marking a milestone in its One Africa initiative.

The event gathered around 60 participants, including PLG representatives — among them Xavier Duburcq, CEO, and Jean-Luc Taborin, EVP Head of Consulting — as well as key figures of the Moroccan and international pharmaceutical and digital ecosystem, such as Mohamed El Bouhmadi, President of FMIIP, and Omar Sefiani, CEO of Sobrus.

At the heart of the inauguration, a high-level panel explored “The key role of Artificial Intelligence in transforming the life sciences industry”, moderated by Jean-Luc Taborin and drawing on PLG’s white paper “An Introduction to the Transformative Power of AI in Shaping the Pharmaceutical Industry”.

Xavier Duburcq, CEO of PLG, stated:
“By establishing PL Morocco, we reinforce our presence in Africa and create a hub where local expertise meets international experience. Artificial Intelligence is a powerful lever to accelerate innovation, improve access to care, and optimize health systems across the continent”.

Africa’s pharmaceutical sector is a key growth driver. The International Finance Corporation (IFC) estimates the African pharmaceuticals market could reach USD 50 billion by 2030, with an USD 11 billion investment needed to scale local manufacturing capacity (1). At policy level, UNCTAD emphasizes the importance of regional hubs and special economic zones to attract pharma investment and secure access to medicines (2).

Morocco is emerging as a strategic base: according to FMIIP, the sector generated MAD 23 billion (~USD 2.3 billion) in 2023, including MAD 12.7 billion (~USD 1.27 billion) from the private market alone (3). The Moroccan Competition Council also reports sustained growth between 2015–2019 (4). In parallel, ongoing reforms such as pharmaceutical pricing modernization and multi-country market access initiatives like the GCC centralized registration (GCC-DR) (5) are creating a more predictable and innovation-friendly environment.

PL Morocco is designed to serve both French- and English-speaking Africa, providing:

• Regulatory Affairs (including GCC/Maghreb pathways)
• Safety & Vigilance
• CMC/Quality and GMP upgrade support
• Industrialization services
• Digital transformation expertise

During the opening, PLG hosted a high-level panel on:
“The key role of Artificial Intelligence in transforming the life sciences industry.”

Moderated by Jean-Luc Taborin, the discussion was grounded in PLG’s white paper “An Introduction to the Transformative Power of AI in Shaping the Pharmaceutical Industry”. Speakers and participants discussed tangible opportunities and challenges of AI in:

• R&D
• Regulatory affairs
• Pharmacovigilance
• Quality assurance
• Patient monitoring

Xavier Duburcq, CEO of PLG, commented:
“Establishing PL Morocco is a strategic step in our global expansion. By adding a strong local hub in Casablanca, we align our global expertise with local execution across MENA, helping clients navigate diverse regulatory systems, accelerate approvals, and scale operations more efficiently.”

Abderrahim Bouabidi, Ph.D., Managing Director of PL Morocco, added:
“With over 20 years in pharma — spanning international roles at Abbott and Cooper Pharma — I have seen how the right mix of regulatory strategy, quality, and process optimization can unlock value. Our ambition is clear: position PL Morocco as a regional hub serving both French- and English-speaking Africa, supporting GMP upgrades, international registrations, and compliant growth for local and global innovators.”