Saudi Arabia looks to boost biopharma interest with new contract manufacturer

The sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia, known as the Public Investment Fund (PIF), has been focused on numerous investments across the world, most notably its moves in the world of golf and soccer. But the fund is stepping into the world of contract drug manufacturing close to home.

The Public Investment Fund announced that it is establishing a pharmaceutical investment company called Lifera, which will act as a contract developer and manufacturer of pharmaceutical products on a commercial scale. The release states that the move is designed to boost the biopharma industry of Saudi Arabia and to make the nation a “destination” for pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Yazeed Al-Humied

“PIF is investing to enable a leading health sector in Saudi Arabia, supporting the development of and access to advanced medicines and treatments. Biologics represents one of the most critical and fastest-growing pharmaceutical segments, both in Saudi Arabia and globally,” Yazeed Al-Humied, deputy governor and head of MENA investments at the PIF, said in a release.

Al-Humied said that Lifera is planning to partner with companies to localize manufacturing efforts and attract investment in pharma production. Lifera also wants to focus on the production of vaccines, insulins, plasma, cell and gene therapies, and monoclonal antibodies, among other products. However, no specific products or clients have been named as of yet, and no details were given on where exactly these products will be manufactured.

Endpoints News reached out to the PIF but did not receive a response by press time.

In 2009, the PIF established the National Unified Procurement Company, which is centered around the distribution of medicines and medical supplies in the country.

Saudi Arabia is not the only country taking a keener interest in contract manufacturing in the region. In January, Resilience announced that it secured an equity investment from Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Investment Company. The two parties collaborated on a biopharma manufacturing plan to build a new manufacturing facility in Abu Dhabi.

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