RIYADH: King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSH&RC) has said that it is set to host the Advanced Therapies Forum from June 23 to 24 in Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Thursday.
The SPA quoting a press release said that the forum serves as a collaborative platform, bringing together 30 representatives from academic institutions and government organizations, offering industrial partners the opportunity to demonstrate their research and explore cooperation among healthcare institutions.
According to the release, this initiative aims to transform Saudi Arabia into a leading hub for advanced therapies in the region.
The forum’s goals include promoting cooperation between academic healthcare institutions, funding agencies, industry players, investors, regulators, and government agencies. It aims to enhance the number of clinical trials in T-cell therapy and gene therapy, enabling patients in Saudi Arabia to access these novel treatments. Moreover, it offers industrial partners the opportunity to initiate and explore clinical research at KFSH&RC.
The forum will include 15 main speeches, over 30 presentations, five-panel discussions, and numerous discussion sessions to develop a shared vision for the future of advanced therapies in the Kingdom. It will also focus on localizing the technology for cell manufacturing and gene therapies. Scientists, healthcare leaders, physicians, investors, and industry partners will attend the important event.
Since 2020, KFSH&RC has revived hope for patients who earlier had no treatment options by treating over 120 patients with genetically modified immune cells, starting with the successful treatment of the first child in the region using CAR T-cell therapy.
The hospital recently administered advanced gene therapy to eight patients with hereditary haemophilia approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
This unique therapy has proven effective in increasing the deficient clotting factor to levels that enable patients to live their daily lives without the need for preventive treatment.
The forum comes at a time when gene and cell therapies are witnessing significant international advancements, with more than 30 genetically modified gene and cell therapies expected to be approved for clinical use by 2024.
The KFSH&RC, for the second consecutive year, has been ranked first in the Middle East and Africa and 20th internationally in the list of the world’s top 250 Academic Medical Centres.
