Saudi Arabia’ PIF Launches Lifera, a New CDMO

The Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi Arabia’s global investment organization, announced on June 18, 2023 that it has launched Lifera, a commercial-scale contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO). The CDMO will enable growth of the local bio/pharmaceutical industry, strengthen national resilience, and support Saudi Arabia’s position as a global pharmaceutical manufacturing destination.

Lifera will focus on the manufacture of essential biopharmaceutical products, including insulins, vaccines, plasma therapeutics, monoclonal antibodies, cell and gene therapies, and innovative small molecules. The company will also create partnerships with leading local and international companies as well as attract targeted investments in a bid to grow local capacity and strengthen domestic manufacturing in this sector.

A part of Lifera’s goals is to drive formulation development, medicine development, and manufacturing. The company also intends to increase testing services for sterile bio/pharmaceutical products.

“PIF is investing to enable a leading health sector in Saudi Arabia, supporting the development of and access to advanced medicines and treatments. Biologics represents one of the most critical and fastest-growing pharmaceutical segments, both in Saudi Arabia and globally,” said Yazeed A. Al-Humied, deputy governor and head of Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Investments at PIF, in a company press release. “Lifera intends to partner with leading companies in the sector to localize manufacturing, attract investment, and enable the private sector to scale up, ensuring easier access for patients, whilst securing supply of life-saving medicines that can meet local, regional, and global demand.”

Source: Public Investment Fund