KFSHRC advances healthcare in the KSA with new gene therapy facility and global partnerships

King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSHRC) is pushing the boundaries of Saudi Arabia's medical future. At the Global Health Exhibition 2025 in Riyadh, the institution unveiled a series of landmark initiatives — signing four international agreements and launching the Kingdom's first gene and cell therapy manufacturing facility. Together, these moves embody a new chapter in Saudi healthcare, where cutting-edge science meets national ambition.

As Dr. Majid Alfayyadh, KFSHRC's CEO, noted, the mission is simple but bold: "to deliver specialized care at home, eliminate the need for patients to travel abroad, and build sustainable healthcare capabilities for future generations."

How will it work?

At the heart of this expansion is the newly inaugurated gene and cell therapy manufacturing facility — a 5,000-square-meter powerhouse within the KFSHRC campus. Once fully operational by 2030, it will produce up to 2,400 therapeutic doses annually, meeting nearly 9% of domestic demand. Built to rigorous GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) standards, every step of the production line — from biological preparation to the final therapeutic dose — follows strict oversight to ensure patient safety and product reliability.

The facility isn't just a lab — it's a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia's National Biotechnology Strategy, led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. It aims to establish the Kingdom as a global player in life sciences innovation and local biotech manufacturing.

In tandem, KFSHRC's new partnerships will accelerate that goal:

• Kure Cells (U.S.) will help co-develop and locally manufacture ultra-fast CAR-T cell therapies, giving Saudi patients faster access to life-saving treatments.
• Zimmer Biomet joins hands with KFSHRC to advance robotic surgical systems and AI-powered precision surgery while offering hands-on training to Saudi clinicians.
• Medtronic will strengthen cardiac catheterization services and sustainability within cardiac care.
• The Center for National Health Insurance (CNHI) will collaborate to provide specialized care domestically, improving spending efficiency and patient experience.

Each deal is a gear in a larger machine — transforming healthcare from dependency to self-reliance.

Why does it matter?

This isn't just a medical story. It's an economic and national one. By producing gene and cell therapies locally, Saudi Arabia could save up to 8 billion riyals by 2030. That's money redirected from foreign treatment costs into national innovation.

The ripple effects are vast:

• Patients will access world-class treatments without leaving the country.
• Clinicians will gain exposure to advanced techniques and technologies.
• The healthcare system becomes more efficient, sustainable, and resilient.

It also positions KFSHRC — already ranked 15th globally among the world's top 250 academic medical centers and named the Middle East's most valuable healthcare brand — as a hub for scientific leadership and knowledge transfer.

As one senior official described it, "This is about turning the Kingdom from a consumer of medical innovation into a creator of it."

The context

These announcements dovetail perfectly with Saudi Vision 2030 and the Health Sector Transformation Program, which emphasize accessibility, innovation, and economic diversification.

KFSHRC's interactive pavilion at the Global Health Exhibition 2025 symbolized that vision in motion, showcasing the hospital's research, training, and technological partnerships that together map a path toward healthcare sovereignty.

Saudi Arabia's shift toward precision medicine and biotechnology isn't just about catching up with global leaders. It's about redefining what's possible in regional healthcare — building a system where science, industry, and humanity align.

In Riyadh this week, that vision didn't just sparkle under exhibition lights — it took solid form in steel, glass, and collaboration.