Lifera (A PIF Company) to Localize over 50% of Saudi Arabia’s Insulin Needs with Novo Nordisk Saudi Arabia

• A seven-year plan by Lifera through its subsidiary SaudiBio, to produce the first (formulate, fill and finish) localised insulin with Novo Nordisk in Saudi Arabia has been confirmed
• This agreement is aligned with the recently announced The National Biotechnology Strategy of Saudi Arabia to transform its healthcare sector by increasing local biopharmaceutical manufacturing, creating job opportunities, and facilitating knowledge transfer

Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – October 21, 2024

Lifera, have announced an agreement with Novo Nordisk, the world’s largest producer of insulin. Through Lifera’s subsidiary, SaudiBio, the two companies have agreed to localise insulin production in Saudi Arabia. This move will foster technology transfer and cultivate a skilled local biopharmaceutical workforce with aseptic production capabilities. By 2027, Saudi Arabia is set to become the first producer of a biologic innovator insulin in the region.

A Significant Step Towards Economic Diversification

These efforts towards insulin manufacturing localisation will help to further diversify the Kingdom’s economy by growing the biopharmaceutical sector and ultimately contributing to the Saudi’s Vision 2030. Lifera’s Mission is to improve Saudi Arabia’s biopharma resilience and to enable the National Biotechnology Strategy both of which are advanced through the localisation of insulin, an essential medicine, and the development of state-of-the-art biomanufacturing capacity.

This substantial achievement in local biopharmaceutical manufacturing has facilitated top-tier global knowledge transfer, will train the next generation of Saudi workforce skilled in highly technical aseptic manufacturing and is expected to create over 200 high-skilled jobs in Saudi Arabia by 2027/28. Additionally, the partnership enhances access to affordable medications, and fortifies the nation’s healthcare supply chain.

On this landmark agreement, Novo Nordisk Saudi Arabia ‘will bring innovation closer to the patients living with diabetes in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The announcement of Insulin Local Manufacturing is a step towards ensuring sustainable access to innovative medication by collaborating with NUPCO, Local Content and other key stakeholders who are striving hard to improve quality of lives of people living with diabetes.’

Dr. Ibrahim Aljuffali, Chairman of the Lifera Board of Directors commented “Lifera is very proud to count Novo Nordisk as a customer and for the trust placed in us to meet and exceed their rigorous standards. Through this deal, Lifera is taking a big step toward achieving its mission to localize the manufacturing of essential medicines in Saudi Arabia and to enable the National Biotechnology Strategy by deploying state-of-the-art biomanufacturing capacity.”

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