Founder of Hikma Pharmaceuticals passes away

Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC today announced that Hikma’s founder and honorary life president, Samih Darwazah, passed away Friday at the age of 85.

Darwazah founded Hikma, a multinational pharmaceuticals company that recently entered the FTSE 100 index, in 1978 in Amman, Jordan.

He founded Hikma with the vision to bring high quality and affordable medicine to the world. The business started in a small factory in Jordan and grew into the largest regional supplier of pharmaceuticals in the Middle East and North Africa region. Hikma also has operations in Europe and the U.S.

Darwazah was a politician, philanthropist, an entrepreneur and a business leader. He created jobs, advocated corporate responsibility and believed in investing in the local community. Darwazah served as a senator, served the King of Jordan, founded the Jordanian Trade Association and established a Jordanian school for girls.

Ernst and Young named Darwazah Middle East Entrepreneur of the year in 2007. He also received five honorary doctorates in recognition of his achievements from the St. Louis College of Pharmacy, the Lebanese American University, Birzeit University, the American University of Beirut and the Jordan University of Science and Technology.

Condolences can be sent to condolences@hikma.com.