RIYADH: Efforts to build a new manufacturing and research and development hub in Saudi Arabia and across the wider Middle East are accelerating as more than 30,000 pharma professionals and decision-makers are expected to attend the inaugural CPHI (Convention on Pharmaceutical Ingredients) Middle East at Riyadh Front Exhibition and Convention Center.
CPHI Middle East, which is to be held from Dec. 10-12, will be the largest-ever gathering of pharma companies in the region as government officials, global pharma companies, biotechs and manufacturing partners meet to begin the next phase in the Kingdom’s plans to build a world-class R&D and manufacturing infrastructure.
Tahaluf, Saudi Arabia’s fastest-growing business event organizer, has been behind the event which has garnered the support of the Saudi Ministry of Health.
April Hung, brand manager for CPHI Middle East, said: “CPHI Middle East is set to be the portfolio’s most successful launch to date, with incredibly impressive attendee and exhibitor numbers. This level of interest reflects the region’s ambitions and strong demand for partnerships.”
Hung added: “The public-private collaboration here is impressive, and by bringing CPHI to Saudi Arabia we are helping accelerate the development of partnerships and supply ecosystems that will fuel growth over the next five years.
“We are thrilled to launch the show and play a role in building a new ‘heart of pharma’ in the Middle East.”
The event is expecting over 400 exhibitors, and representatives from more than 100 countries.
Pharma leaders predict that the first CPHI event in the Kingdom will help speed up efforts to establish a robust domestic manufacturing base.
Hala Audi, the CEO of Unizima, a consultancy specialising in public and private partnerships for bioproduction facilities in emerging markets, said: “The event’s success is just another indicator of the significant investment underway in the region.
“The rate of change is only accelerating, and the Kingdom is building pharma infrastructure at pace. The government is rightly driving the momentum, by focusing on its strengths — a sizable domestic market, growing scientific and medical talent, and financing power.
“I believe that with the right technology partnerships, the region is poised to build a biotech ecosystem that will compete with the best globally. Next generation technologies for vaccines and therapeutics, including for instance RNA-based treatments, offer an opportunity for the Kingdom and the region to leapfrog and lead the way in biotech.”
More than 150 experts are presenting at the event and a ministerial panel on Dec. 10 will outline the Kingdom’s strategy to develop a biopharma ecosystem, in alignment with the Kingdom’s vision to be the leading biotech hub in MENA (Middle East and North Africa) by 2030 and globally by 2040.
The Kingdom has ambitious plans to reduce its reliance on imported drugs. Saudi Arabia relies heavily on imports for its pharmaceutical needs, with only 30 percent of drugs manufactured locally. To address this, the government aims to increase local production to 40 percent as part of its Vision 2030 plan.
Among the event’s highlights, Audi will share insights on building biologics capabilities in emerging markets, while Greg Licholai, chief medical and innovation officer at Icon and faculty member at Yale School of Management, will explore “The Patient Singularity: How the Middle East can use AI to Improve Bio-Pharmaceutical Outcomes.”
The event will also feature prominent panel discussions, including a session on expanding Saudi Arabia’s domestic manufacturing hub, moderated by Eleonora Brero, head of consulting and financial institution consulting at IQVIA Middle East and Africa.
