Saudi Arabia While international pharma has long been present in Saudi Arabia, the ambitious goals outlined in the country’s Vision 2030 economic transformation plan have encouraged companies to reinforce their commitment to the Kingdom. In recent PharmaBoardroom interviews, Saudi pharma country managers reveal their priorities and concerns.   Saudi Arabia holds immense…

Saudi Arabia Halal pharmaceuticals, or medicines produced according to Islamic dietary laws, presented a global market worth some USD 100 billion in 2019, yet much of halal pharmaceuticals’ potential remains untapped. In conversation with PharmaBoardroom, Mazen M. Hassanain, co-founder and managing director of SaudiVax, a pioneer in halal vaccines, discusses the development…

Saudi Arabia As the GCC’s largest market, Saudi Arabia, with its growing population, strong healthcare infrastructure and government commitment to developing the economy beyond oil through its Vision 2030, is increasingly attractive for multinational pharma and local players alike. In 2024 government reforms will continue to encourage investment and local production while…

Saudi Arabia The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has joined the Pharmaceutical Inspection Co-operation Scheme (PIC/S), aimed at harmonising inspection procedures worldwide. Through PIC/S membership the SFDA looks to continue bolstering its capabilities and further its international collaboration efforts.   SFDA’s accession to PIC/S is one of the strategic projects of…

MEA Healthcare in the GCC continues to undergo major transformation with the introduction of government reforms, a shifting demographic and mandatory health insurance. These factors along with increased private sector participation and an ongoing infrastructure boom are poised to drive further growth in healthcare spending in the region – up to…

MENA Amira Younes of AbbVie UAE examines how the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for new ways of thinking about delivering regulatory effectiveness and efficiency in the region, and for flexibility from all stakeholders to ensure that therapies continue to reach patients in a timely manner.   Most countries in the…

Saudi Arabia Under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan, the country has been activating the private sector’s participation in its healthcare transformation, advancing the public-private partnership (PPP) model to step up the rollout of new and more efficient healthcare infrastructures. After issuing a string of EOIs, the Kingdom’s first hospital PPP project has…

Middle East & Africa The Middle East and Africa (MEA), the fifth-largest regional pharma market in the world, is rapidly becoming a pharmaceutical powerhouse with both global and local firms taking advantage of the region’s population and life expectancy growth as well as greater government funding for healthcare and the progress of universal healthcare…

Saudi Arabia The latest news from the Saudi healthcare and life science industry, including how the implementation of COVID-19 measures have helped reduce the prevalence of MERS-CoV in the country, regulatory approval for Alvotech and Bioventure’s Humira biosimilar, and Open Medical’s new partnership with Tamer Group around digital transformation solutions.   As…

Saudi Arabia Some of the most significant stories coming out of Saudi Arabia’s dynamic pharmaceutical industry, including Spanish firm Cinfa’s decision to reinforce its presence in the country, how Saudi and other Middle Eastern countries are becoming major importers of Korean biomedical products, and the USD 335 million funding injection secured by…

Saudi Arabia Saudi Chemical Company Holding (SCCH), Saudi Arabia’s leading manufacturer of civil and military explosives, has been expanding its pharma sector footprint in recent years. Today, the company has capabilities across pharma distribution through SITCO Pharma, manufacturing (both for its own products and as a contract manufacturing organisation (CMO)) via AJA…

MEA Seasoned executive Mohamed Nasser currently oversees 16 markets for Amgen across the MEA region, including its most important – Saudi Arabia. He shares some of the key skills that pharma executives overseeing his region need to succeed.   As region head for a company that is only 40 years old,…