Big Pharma Sets Sights on Middle East
BioSpectrum Asia|BioSpectrum Asia Oct 2023
The Middle East, traditionally renowned for its prominence in the travel and oil and gas industries, is shifting its focus towards the life sciences sector. The region is actively forging numerous partnerships, initiatives, and programmes, and spending billions to establish itself as a major hub for life sciences. As the population of the region continues to grow and age, there is a clear and growing demand for locally manufactured medical treatments and products. Big pharma players are also making substantial inroads into the Middle East, with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) leading the way in these regional efforts. Areas such as rare diseases, genomics, personalised medicines, and pharmaceutical manufacturing have emerged as hotspots in the Middle East. Let’s delve deeper into the region’s endeavours to become a biotech powerhouse.
Ayesha Siddiqui
Big Pharma Sets Sights on Middle East
 

The Middle East is rapidly emerging as a key player in the global life sciences and pharmaceutical industry. With ambitious initiatives, strategic partnerships, and substantial investments, the region is poised to make significant contributions to healthcare innovation.

Over the last decade, the UAE’s pharmaceutical industry has seen a significant transformation, with manufacturing facilities growing from four in 2010 to 23 in 2021. This expansion reflects a strong commitment to boosting regional pharmaceutical capacity, providing affordable, high-quality medicines, and fostering innovation. The local market’s value has surged from $1.5 billion in 2011 to an estimated $3.7 billion in 2021, projected to reach $4.7 billion by 2025. The UAE now produces over 2,500 different medications, serving both domestic and global markets. In 2020, pharmaceutical exports reached $251 million to 48 countries, with an expected increase to $297 million by 2025. While imports remain significant at $2.6 billion in 2020, the sector offers substantial investment opportunities for sustainable growth, according to reports from ADQ.

This story is from the BioSpectrum Asia Oct 2023 edition of BioSpectrum Asia.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the BioSpectrum Asia Oct 2023 edition of BioSpectrum Asia.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM BIOSPECTRUM ASIAView All
New South Wales government injects $5M for critical research to address Silicosis crisis
BioSpectrum Asia

New South Wales government injects $5M for critical research to address Silicosis crisis

The New South Wales (NSW) government in Australia has committed $5 million in critical funding for silicosis research and a patient support programme for individuals and their families navigating the health risks associated with exposure to silica dust.

time-read
1 min  |
BioSpectrum Asia May2024
Singapore approves new asthma indication for GSK's Trelegy Ellipta
BioSpectrum Asia

Singapore approves new asthma indication for GSK's Trelegy Ellipta

GSK Singapore has announced that the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has approved a new indication and a new strength for Trelegy Ellipta (fluticasone furoate/umeclidinium/vilanterol 'FF/UMEC/VI') for the maintenance treatment of asthma in patients aged 18 years and older who are not adequately controlled with a combination of a long-acting beta2-agonist (LABA) and an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS).

time-read
1 min  |
BioSpectrum Asia May2024
What's APAC's Recipe of Success in CLINICAL TRIALS MARKET?
BioSpectrum Asia

What's APAC's Recipe of Success in CLINICAL TRIALS MARKET?

Asia-Pacific APAC) is emerging as one of the most promising and resilient markets for clinical trials. According to a report by Clinical Trials Arena, between 2017 and 2022, the region posted growth in clinical trials of around 10 per cent, outstripping growth in other major regions including the US, Europe and the rest of the world RoW). Asia’s growth far exceeded the overall average figure of 5.3 per cent per year. As of 2023, the number of trials reached 14,346 in APAC. Let's delve into the thriving clinical research landscape in the region and explore the trends driving its growth.

time-read
10+ mins  |
BioSpectrum Asia May2024
From Haematologic to Autoimmune DiseaseThe CAR-T Therapy Second Revolution
BioSpectrum Asia

From Haematologic to Autoimmune DiseaseThe CAR-T Therapy Second Revolution

Cell and gene therapies have revolutionised the field of medicine, offering new treatment options for patients with various diseases that, by type of disease or severity, were considered untreatable until a few years ago. Rapid technological advancements in genetic and biological engineering and improvements in the quality and standardisation of the manufacturing process are fostering a marked increase in clinical development of these advanced therapies, generally named cell and gene therapies CGT), and they are expected to receive more approvals in the near future.

time-read
5 mins  |
BioSpectrum Asia May2024
"Biotech startups still need support in terms of talent, and resources to bring their innovations to market"
BioSpectrum Asia

"Biotech startups still need support in terms of talent, and resources to bring their innovations to market"

Raymond Chow has recently stepped in as the Vice President, Asia Pacific at USheadquartered Cytiva, a global provider of technologies and services for biological therapies, formerly known as GE Healthcare Life Sciences.

time-read
5 mins  |
BioSpectrum Asia May2024
"We are exploring opportunities to collaborate with startups and incubators"
BioSpectrum Asia

"We are exploring opportunities to collaborate with startups and incubators"

Agilent Technologies, a global leader in analytical and clinical laboratory technologies, has named Padraig McDonnell CEO-elect and Chief Operating Officer (COO), succeeding current President and CEO Mike McMullen.

time-read
5 mins  |
BioSpectrum Asia May2024
"Australia offers a simple, supportive and robust regulatory process to initiate human trials efficiently"
BioSpectrum Asia

"Australia offers a simple, supportive and robust regulatory process to initiate human trials efficiently"

US-based Uvax Bio, LLC, a spin-off vaccine company from Scripps Research, employs proprietary 1c-SApNP platform technology invented by Dr Jiang Zhu of Scripps Research to develop and commercialise prophylactic vaccines for challenging infectious diseases.

time-read
2 mins  |
BioSpectrum Asia May2024
"Regulatory encouragement of advanced tech, including AI will accelerate clinical trials in APAC"
BioSpectrum Asia

"Regulatory encouragement of advanced tech, including AI will accelerate clinical trials in APAC"

Lokavant Holdings, a US-based clinical trial intelligence technology company provides clinical trial intelligence that enables study teams to make data-driven decisions, as well as risk-based quality management and monitoring services to pharmaceutical companies and contract research organisations (CROs).

time-read
2 mins  |
BioSpectrum Asia May2024
What Are the Main Challenges of Modern Clinical Trials?
BioSpectrum Asia

What Are the Main Challenges of Modern Clinical Trials?

With a cumulative total of almost 478,000 globally registered trials from the year 2000 to 2023, and growing at around 10 per cent a year in the last five years, the pharmaceutical industry continues to invest in clinical trials as the gold-standard test of therapeutic safety and efficacy. In addition, as the world’s economies and populations move in new directions, the share of non-US trials has reached 54 per cent, a trend that is likely to continue, driven by demographics and epidemiology. As the pace accelerates, trial managers and clinicians face a significant challenge: the explosive growth of data volumes. To succeed in the future, clinical trials need to increase efficiency and better utilise clinical trial data to support informed clinical and operational decision-making.

time-read
3 mins  |
BioSpectrum Asia May2024
How APAC Has Turned into Clinical Trial Behemoth
BioSpectrum Asia

How APAC Has Turned into Clinical Trial Behemoth

From being a consistent participant in clinical trial conduct worldwide, the APAC has emerged as a major power. A number of causes, including the region's thriving drug development innovation and the ongoing presence of international pharmaceutical corporations conducting multiregional studies, are driving this growth.

time-read
3 mins  |
BioSpectrum Asia May2024