The Saudi Pharmaceutical Industries and Medical Appliances Corporation (SPIMACO), together with its wholly owned subsidiary SPIMACO BIO, signed an exclusive collaboration and licensing agreement with Genetix Biotherapeutics to develop, commercialize, manufacture, and localize LYFGENIA™ and ZYNTEGLO™ in Saudi Arabia and across the Middle East.
The agreement was signed at the Saudi Pavilion during BIO International Convention 2026 in San Diego, California, in the presence of representatives from both companies, under the patronage of Vice Minister of Health for Planning and Development Abdulaziz Al-Ramaih.
The agreement was signed on behalf of SPIMACO by Vice Chairman and Managing Director Ahmed Al-Jedai, and on behalf of Genetix Biotherapeutics by Chief Executive Officer David Meek. The agreement establishes a long-term strategic partnership aimed at accelerating patient access to advanced gene therapies across Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, while supporting knowledge transfer and biotechnology localization efforts.
Both LYFGENIA™ and ZYNTEGLO™ are innovative one-time gene therapies for patients with sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia respectively.
The partnership aims to improve patient access to transformative one-time treatments addressing a significant unmet medical need, contributing to improved health outcomes for patients in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East.
The agreement reflects national ambitions to build an advanced biotechnology sector in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030, the National Biotechnology Strategy, and the National Industrial Strategy, representing an advanced step in supporting the regional bio innovation ecosystem and strengthening the Kingdom’s position at the forefront of life sciences innovation.
SPIMACO and SPIMACO BIO will be responsible for obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals, development, and commercial marketing in Saudi Arabia, GCC countries, and the Middle East region. SPIMACO will also leverage its manufacturing expertise to establish advanced local manufacturing capabilities within Saudi Arabia.
Source: Riyadh Daily