The CEO and co-founder of Genpharm, Karim Smaira, is a leading pharmaceutical and healthcare entrepreneur in the rare disease and medtech industries. Kamel Ghammachi, Chairman and Co-Founder of Genpharm, is a seasoned visionary. They spent years at the helm of multinational health corporations before bringing their business expertise to SMEs. Together, this powerhouse pair combined their complementary experience to establish Genpharm, a company built with a clear purpose—to drive innovation and create a lasting impact in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors.”
Smaira and Ghammachi founded Genpharm in 2012, recognising an untapped opportunity in the rare disease market. They aimed to bridge the gap in a highly underserved sector where less than 5 per cent of the 7,000 known rare diseases have treatments. Eighty per cent of these diseases affect children, most are inheritable and degenerative in nature, are diagnosed late, with most patients not making it past their fifth birthday or living through a significantly reduced quality of life for them and their families. This challenge offered Smaira and Ghammachi a unique opportunity to change lives.
Challenging beginnings
Starting Genpharm came with many challenges. At 39 years old, Smaira left the comfort and security of a corporate position, investing the bulk of his personal savings into the startup while supporting a family of three. Alongside him, Ghammachi also took a leap of faith, by making the same sacrifices and leaving a thriving corporate career and investing most of his savings into what initially seemed like an ambitious vision.
The first four years were marked by sleepless nights over payroll and protracted negotiations with pharmaceutical companies and key stakeholders like distributors, regulators, and payors. Convincing others to abandon stable corporate positions for this high-risk start-up and join the journey was another significant challenge. Yet, despite skepticism, they remained resolute in their mission and the bigger purpose driving them.
Genpharm’s unique business model and impact
Genpharm took a different approach from established pharmaceutical companies. It set itself apart by focusing exclusively on rare disease treatments rather than mass-market drugs, generics, or OTC products. This strategic focus served a small but desperately underserved community. Over the past ten years, Genpharm has grown to over 100 employees and continues to aggressively grow its yearly revenues.
Company culture
Much of Genpharm’s success stems from the founders’ emphasis on company culture. From the outset, they prioritised empowerment and internal growth, promoting directors who started as medical representatives and advanced through the ranks. Their shared vision fostered a self-sufficient organisation where the team is empowered to make decisions and manage daily operations.
Legacy
Smaira’s and Ghammachi’s achievement from the corporate world to purpose-driven entrepreneurship has built a highly successful business. But Genpharm has always been more than just financial gain. As Smaira explains, “If the organisation is based on an aspirational vision, is purpose-driven and sticks to its core values, business success will follow as a result of that.” Ghammachi adds, “At a certain point, having a bigger purpose in life—to define one’s legacy—becomes paramount, something to proudly share with your children. That realisation led to the birth of Genpharm.” Their journey underscores the power of resilience and the importance of a shared purpose and how it can transform any bold vision into reality.
Genpharm is now recognised as one of the principal leaders in the rare disease space, with a brand reputation that extends beyond the region, as new clients and business development efforts are driven predominantly by referrals. Together, Smaira and Ghammachi exemplify how early risk-taking, navigating uncertainties, and how partnering with complementary strengths can lead to tremendous business success.
In an industry where the odds were stacked against them, the founders’ determination, leadership, and unwavering commitment to helping children with rare diseases have cemented their legacy in the Middle East’s pharmaceutical landscape.
Thirteen years later, they remain as driven as ever. Their patient centric focus and the determination to bring innovative therapies to patients in the Middle East continue to drive their passion and to turn sustainable growth for the company. These strategic partners have established Genpharm as one of the principal leaders in the rare disease and specialty market segments. Smaira and Ghammachi are a prime example of how assuming early risks, navigating the early uncertainties, but most importantly finding a business partner with the right mindset and expertise lead to tremendous business success.