RIYADH — Novartis and Sudair Pharma have signed a memorandum of understanding to discuss local manufacturing agreement of a big range of cancer innovative products in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under the patronage Dr. Hisham Aljedhaee, president of Saudi Food & Drug Authority and in the presence of Ibrahim AlSwayyel, deputy governor of SAGIA and Swiss ambassador Dr. Andreas Schaller, among others. In the agreement, Novartis will provide all technology and quality standards to Sudair Pharma to ensure technology transfer of these items.

Novartis, as one of the international leading pharmaceutical companies, is keen to engage with the Saudi society and work with different governmental agencies to participate in realization of the National Transformation Plan and Saudi Vision in the pharmaceutical sector; therefore, Novartis decided to strategically drive a long-term localization plan which include transfer of technology, co-manufacturing agreement with different local pharma manufacturers, building capabilities, and strengthen its clinical research programs.

To be able to help more Saudi patients suffering from cancer, Novartis decided to strengthen its local presence in Saudi by exploring a strategic partnership with a well-known and specialized local oncology manufacturing experts Sudair Pharma. — SG