Saudi Arabia steps up in-house CAR-T production

King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSHRC) has begun in-house manufacturing and clinical use of CAR-T cell therapy, a move chief executive Dr Majid Alfayyadh says signals Saudi Arabia’s readiness to lead the next era of biotechnology.

Speaking at the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh, Dr Alfayyadh said the development reflects the country’s expanding research capacity and KFSHRC’s emergence as a catalyst for innovation and a regional biotechnology hub. He added that the hospital’s growing biomanufacturing ecosystem aligns with national priorities in precision medicine and gene therapy.

He highlighted the country’s progress toward becoming a global medical innovation hub by 2040, citing an integrated environment that combines research, investment, and regulatory momentum. The Saudi Food and Drug Authority now approves clinical trials in as little as 60 days, he noted, underscoring a more agile governance model for scientific advancement.