Riyadh: King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSHRC) announced the opening of Saudi Arabia's first facility dedicated to the manufacturing of genetic and cellular therapies. The initiative is expected to provide thousands of patients with access to advanced treatments locally and reduce healthcare costs by an estimated SAR8 billion by 2030. The facility is projected to meet approximately nine percent of the nation's demand for these therapies.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the facility will cover 5,000 square meters within the hospital campus in Riyadh and is scheduled to begin operations in late 2025. It will specialize in producing immunotherapies using T cells, stem cells, and viral vector technologies. Future plans include expanding capabilities to gene editing and manufacturing liver and pancreatic islet cells to treat complex genetic and immune diseases. By 2030, the facility aims to produce around 2,400 treatment doses annually.
The facility is designed to comply with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards, ensuring that all pharmaceutical production processes meet global safety and quality benchmarks. Advanced AI systems will manage quality control, and the facility's modular layout allows for rapid scaling in the future.
This project marks a significant advancement in Saudi Arabia's biopharmaceutical industry, fostering medical research and innovation while creating opportunities for national talent to develop future therapies. KFSHRC is also expanding its gene therapy production capacity to deliver 100 therapies annually, in line with the National Biotechnology Strategy initiated by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. This strategy aims to improve healthcare, localize biopharmaceutical industries, and position the Kingdom as a leader in life sciences innovation by 2040.
The hospital is set to present this manufacturing complex and its other technological advancements at the Global Health Exhibition 2025 in Riyadh. This includes innovations in robotic surgery, genetic diagnostics, and augmented-reality medical training, aligning with national efforts to transition from healthcare consumption to healthcare creation.
KFSHRC has achieved significant recognition, ranking first in the Middle East and North Africa and fifteenth globally among the top 250 academic medical centers for 2025. It has been acknowledged by Brand Finance 2025 as the Middle East's most valuable healthcare brand and listed in Newsweek's World's Best Hospitals 2025, Best Smart Hospitals 2026, and Best Specialized Hospitals 2026, solidifying its status as a leader in innovation-driven patient care.