29 August 2023 | News
The joint venture would build an advanced large-scale, commercial drug product manufacturing facility in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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US-based National Resilience, Inc., a technology-focused biomanufacturing company dedicated to broadening access to complex medicines, and Saudi Arabia-based Lifera, wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), have entered into a non-binding term sheet for the development of biopharma manufacturing capacity in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Through this strategic joint venture and working with Lifera, Resilience would provide expertise for the design, construction and commission of a cGMP state-of-the-art drug product manufacturing facility. The joint venture will be focused on sterile injectables and other parenteral products, fulfilling existing local and regional demand.
The proposed facility will support the aseptic filling of inactivated/bacterial vaccines, mRNA vaccines and therapeutics such as monoclonal antibodies, plasma derived products and large molecules.
This new facility, which Lifera would be controlling owner of with Resilience owning a minority stake, aims to produce more than 125 million units annually, initially targeting to manufacture priority molecules within Lifera’s business plan with planned capacity to export to GCC countries and elsewhere.
Lifera intends to explore additional technology transfer opportunities with Resilience including cell and gene therapies and nucleic acids. Resilience will support the training of up to 200 Lifera staff and Lifera will explore the establishment of dedicated training facilities in Saudi Arabia to support the workforce training and upskilling for the joint venture.
Under the agreement, Resilience would receive a significant equity investment from Lifera.