Saudi Arabia is set to establish its first fully integrated, modular facility for manufacturing advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs), according to information shared at the BIO International Convention 2025 in Boston. The initiative is a collaboration between King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSHRC) and Germfree Laboratories, LLC.
The new campus will be located within KFSHRC in Riyadh and represents a significant step toward achieving Vision 2030 and the National Biotechnology Strategy, both designed to position the Kingdom as a leader in life sciences and biomanufacturing by 2040.
A Letter of Intent outlines the project’s goal to accelerate local production of cell and gene therapies, support international clinical trials, and attract top pharmaceutical partners and scientific talent from around the globe, according to the organizers. The facility will be built in phases, starting with Germfree’s BioGO Box cleanroom module for early training and research, followed by a larger modular complex featuring 16 production suites for clinical and commercial manufacturing.
The campus is expected to be fully operational just 18 months after the contract is finalized, which is about half the time typically required for similar facilities, according to the project partners. This development aims to boost Saudi Arabia’s capabilities in biotechnology and strengthen its position as a global leader in the sector.
