KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 30 (Bernama) -- King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSHRC) will open Saudi Arabia’s first facility for manufacturing genetic and cellular therapies by late 2025, a move set to transform patient care and the nation’s biotech landscape.
According to KFSHRC in a statement, the Riyadh-based plant will give thousands of patients access to advanced cancer and regenerative treatments at home, cutting healthcare costs by an estimated eight billion Saudi riyals (US$2 billion) by 2030 and meeting nearly nine per cent of national demand for such therapies. (US$1=RM4.18)
Spanning more than 5,000 square metres, the high-tech complex will produce CAR T-cell and stem-cell therapies, re-engineering patients’ own cells to fight cancer or repair damaged tissue. Its 16 modular clean-room clusters are built for flexibility as new technologies emerge.
Operating under Good Manufacturing Practice standards, the facility will deploy artificial intelligence-driven quality systems to maintain sterility, safety, and consistency. It is expected to manufacture around 2,400 treatment doses annually once fully operational.
The project builds on KFSHRC’s pioneering work—over 200 patients have already received CAR T-cell therapy there since 2020. Beyond treatment, the centre aims to drive research, training, and international collaboration to make Saudi Arabia a hub for biotech innovation.
Unveiled at the Global Health Exhibition 2025 in Riyadh, the initiative underscores the hospital’s role in advancing robotic surgery, genetic diagnostics, and augmented-reality medical training—key pillars in the Kingdom’s shift from healthcare consumption to creation.
KFSHRC’s global reputation continues to rise—it ranks first in the Middle East and North Africa and 15th worldwide among academic medical centres for 2025 and has been named the most valuable healthcare brand in the Middle East by Brand Finance, cementing its position as a leader in innovation-driven care.
-- BERNAMA
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