Germany-based Centogene, the essential life science partner for data-driven answers in rare and neurodegenerative diseases, and Lifera, a biopharmaceutical company wholly-owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), have announced a strategic collaboration with the formation of a Joint Venture (JV) to increase local and regional access and rapid delivery of world-class multiomic testing to patients in Saudi Arabia and countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Under the terms of the collaboration, Centogene will receive a $30 million mandatory convertible loan from Lifera. 

Centogene will provide its leading diagnostics and multiomics expertise to the JV, which together with Lifera's strong local presence and resources, will establish widespread access to local state-of-the-art genetic sequencing tailored to regional needs.

The JV will build an advanced laboratory and bioinformatics infrastructure – leveraging the Centogene Biodatabank, the world's largest real-world integrated multiomic data repository in rare disease biobanks globally and neurodegenerative diseases, which has more than 70 million and over 35,000 Saudi Arabian patient datasets.

The JV will develop capabilities for genetic testing and interpretation working collaboratively with Centogene globally – serving as a vehicle for large national screening and genomics programs. As such, patients in Saudi Arabia and the GCC, a rapidly growing region with over 56 million inhabitants, will have increased access to the world's most advanced and effective diagnostic offerings, which is at the core of Lifera's strategic objectives, contributing to improving national resilience and health outcomes in Saudi Arabia.