Riyadh's KFSH&RC Sets Stage For Advanced Therapies Forum To Foster Regional Innovation

King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSH&RC) announced it will host the Advanced Therapies Forum from June 23 to 24 in Riyadh. This event aims to bring together 30 representatives from government organizations and academic institutions, providing industrial partners a platform to showcase their research and explore partnership opportunities with healthcare institutions.

The forum's primary goal is to position the Kingdom as a leading hub for advanced therapies in the region, covering early development to licensing stages. Objectives include fostering collaboration between academic healthcare institutions, industry players, funding agencies, investors, regulators, and government agencies. The forum also aims to increase clinical trials in T-cell therapy and gene therapy, allowing patients in the Kingdom access to these novel treatments.

Industrial partners, including pharmaceutical companies of all sizes, will have opportunities to explore and initiate clinical research at KFSH&RC. The event will feature 15 keynote speeches, over 30 project presentations by industry leaders, five panel discussions, and numerous sessions aimed at developing a shared vision for the future of advanced therapies in the Kingdom. A significant focus will be on localizing technology for manufacturing cell and gene therapies.

Attendees will include scientists, physicians, healthcare leaders, investors, and industry partners. Since 2020, KFSH&RC has treated over 120 patients with genetically modified immune cells. This began with the successful treatment of the first child in the region using CAR T-cell therapy. Recently, the hospital administered advanced gene therapy to eight patients with hereditary haemophilia.

This novel therapy has proven effective in raising deficient clotting factors to levels that enable patients to live without preventive treatment. Achieved through one dose, this marks a significant transformation in the quality of life for both patients and their families. The forum comes at a time when gene and cell therapies are witnessing significant global advancements.

More than 30 genetically modified gene and cell therapies are expected to be approved for clinical use by 2024. The global market for cell and gene therapies is anticipated to grow significantly, reaching over $50 billion annually by 2027. More than two million patients are expected to benefit from T-cell therapy over the next decade, with over a thousand clinical trials currently in development worldwide.

For the second consecutive year, KFSH&RC has been ranked first in the Middle East and Africa and 20th globally among the world's top 250 Academic Medical Centres. According to the 2024 Brand Finance rankings, it is recognized as the most valuable healthcare brand in the Kingdom and the Middle East. Newsweek magazine also ranked it among the world's best 250 hospitals.

With inputs from SPA