companies that intend to enter into the market for the first time. The Ministry of Health and Medical Education is the main stakeholder of pharmaceutical affairs in the country. Market In 2006, 55 pharmaceutical companies in Iran produce more than 96 percent (quantitatively) of medicines on the market, worth $1.2 billion annually. Iran's pharmaceutical market is estimated to be worth $1.87 billion (2008), $2.31 billion (2009), $3.26 billion (2011), $3,57 billion (2013) and $3.65bn by 2013 (projected). The drug market in Iran is heavily in favour of generic medicines, which contributed US$1.23bn to the total in 2009, with patented drugs at US$817mn and OTC medicines at US$262mn. The market share of local production (value-wise) has declined from 85.2% to 63.4% over the past 8 (Iranian) years (2009). In this period the value of importation has jumped from 14.8% to 36.6%. The government imposes 90% tariff on the import of drugs. In 2009, 1.8 million units of pharmaceutical products worth $1.2 billion were imported into Iran. As of 2015, Iran's share of global biotechnology products market is half a billion US dollar. In 2010, 50% of raw materials and chemicals used in the drug manufacturing sector were imported. In 2019, Iranian companies were able to produce 80-90% of the raw materials needed inside the country. Products Iran has produced a wide range of pharmaceuticals for the treatment of cancer, diabetes, infection and depression. Iran is the first country in the East Mediterranean region which has the technical and scientific capability to export vaccines to various world countries. Iran will gain self-sufficiency in vaccine production by 2014. As of 2019, Iran produced 8 out of the 18 main vaccines for humans. In 2020-2021, amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran, Iran developed multiple COVID-19 vaccines with five that have received emergency use authorization (COVIran Barekat, Pasteurcovac, FAKHRAVAC, COVAX-19 and Razi Cov Pars). The new drugs launched in Iran for the treatment of MS include an interferon beta-1b by CinnaGen. Gamma Immunex (recombinant interferon beta 1), Pegaferon (recombinant pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN)) and regenerative human factor VIII are among other recombinant-based medication made in Iran. A generic version of fingolimod by Novartis has been launched as well as a biosimilar version of EMD Serono′s Rebif. Iranian researchers have developed 41 types of anti-cancer medications, overcoming the need for importing pricey cancer drugs from abroad (2011). There are also 24 additional biosimilar drugs which Iran plans