Khaberni - In a national achievement that restores hope for thousands of patients, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center launched the first facility for manufacturing gene and cellular therapies in Saudi Arabia; with the aim of providing advanced treatment for thousands of patients within the Kingdom, achieving cost savings estimated at about 8 billion Saudi Riyals in treatment costs by 2030, and covering approximately 9% of the local demand for these advanced therapies through the localization of immune and cellular therapy manufacturing technologies.
The first operational phase of the facility, which is established on a site exceeding five thousand square meters inside the hospital campus in Riyadh, will begin at the end of 2025. It includes the production of advanced immunotherapies based on T-cells, stem cells, and viral vector technologies, and is planned to later expand to include gene editing technologies and the production of liver cells and pancreatic islets for the treatment of complex genetic and immune diseases, aiming for a production capacity of about 2,400 therapeutic doses annually by 2030.
The facility operates according to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), which are considered the global gold standard to ensure the production of therapies in a tightly controlled and precisely monitored environment, where every step is reviewed, and every process is documented to ensure that therapies reach patients with the highest levels of safety and quality. It also features the integration of smart manufacturing technologies and artificial intelligence in quality monitoring and production process management, ensuring the highest levels of precision and reliability, and allowing for rapid scalability in the future.
The project represents a qualitative leap in the path of developing biopharmaceutical industries within the Kingdom, enhancing its capacities in the field of medical research and innovation, and opening new horizons for national talents to participate in the production of future therapies.
"Khaberni" is moving rapidly towards expanding its production capabilities to reach 100 gene therapies annually, in a step that intersects with the national biotechnology strategy launched by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister – may God preserve him – aimed at improving national health, enhancing the quality of life, localizing biotechnologies, maximizing their economic impact, and ultimately, making the Kingdom a global center for innovation in life sciences by 2040.
"Khaberni" will showcase its most prominent medical innovations to visitors during its participation in the Global Health Forum 2025 in Riyadh, including the facility for manufacturing gene and cellular therapies, alongside its leading programs in robotic surgery, immune cell therapy, genetic diagnosis of embryos, and augmented reality technologies in medical education, within an interactive experience that embodies the hospital's vision in localizing medical knowledge and enhancing the Kingdom's position as a regional center for health innovation.
It is noteworthy that King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center was ranked first in the Middle East and North Africa and 15th globally among the top 250 academic healthcare institutions worldwide for 2025, and the highest-valued healthcare brand in the Kingdom and the Middle East, according to "Brand Finance" for 2025, and was also listed among "Newsweek's" world's best hospitals for 2025, the best smart hospitals for 2026, and the best specialized hospitals for 2026.
