Lifera (A PIF Company.) to localize over 50% of Saudi Arabia's Insulin Needs with Novo Nordisk Saudi Arabia

Lifera, have announced an agreement with Novo Nordisk, the world's largest producer of insulin. Through Lifera’s subsidiary, SaudiBio, the two companies have agreed to localize insulin production in Saudi Arabia. This move will foster technology transfer and cultivate a skilled local biopharmaceu-tical workforce with aseptic production capabilities. By 2027, Saudi Arabia is set to become the first producer of a biologic innovator insulin in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC.) region.

A Significant Step Towards Economic Diversification

These efforts towards insulin manufacturing localization will help to further diversify Saudi Arabia’s economy by growing the biopharmaceutical sector and ultimately contributing to Saudi’s Vision 2030.  Lifera’s Mission is to improve Saudi Arabia’s biopharma resilience and to enable the National Biotechnology Strategy both of which are advanced through the localization of insulin, an essential medicine, and the development of state-of-the-art biomanufacturing capacity. 

This substantial achievement in local biopharmaceutical manufacturing has facilitated top-tier glob-al knowledge transfer, will train the next generation of Saudi workforce skilled in highly technical aseptic manufacturing and is expected to create over 200 high-skilled jobs in Saudi Arabia by 2027/28. Additionally, the partnership enhances access to affordable medications and fortifies the nation's healthcare supply chain.

On this landmark agreement, Novo Nordisk Saudi Arabia ‘will bring innovation closer to patients liv-ing with diabetes in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The announcement of Insulin Local Manufacturing is a step towards ensuring sustainable access to innovative medication by collaborating with NUPCO, the Local Content and General Procurement Agency (LCGPA) and other key stakeholders who are striving to improve the quality of life for people living with diabetes.

Dr. Ibrahim Aljuffali, Chairman of the Lifera Board of Directors commented “Lifera is very proud to count Novo Nordisk as a customer and for the trust placed in us to meet and exceed their rigorous standards.  Through this deal, Lifera is taking a big step toward achieving its mission to localise the manufacturing of essential medicines in Saudi Arabia and to enable the National Biotechnology Strate-gy by deploying state-of-the-art biomanufacturing capacity. "

About Lifera  (A PIF Company.)

Lifera is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to advancing Saudi Arabia’s biopharmaceutical sector and building national health resilience. Through its Lifera Biologics business unit, local manufacturing capacity is being developed for insulin and other peptides, vaccines, monoclonal antibodies and other bio-logics. Through its subsidiary, Lifera Omics, Lifera is investing in genetic testing and precision medicine to improve patient access to high quality genetic testing and to catalyse biotechnology R&D in Saudi Arabia. Lifera aims to localise the manufacturing of essential medicines and other advanced therapeutics, and to enable the achievement of goals in the National Biotechnology Strategy. Lifera will do this through part-nerships and investments with leading international and Saudi companies to transfer global expertise and technology to Saudi Arabia. Lifera’s differentiated vision and mission, make it an ideal partner to build the biopharmaceutical sector in Saudi Arabia. For more information visit www.lifera.com.sa

About Novo Nordisk Saudi Arabia

Novo Nordisk has been serving the Saudi market since the 1970s, in collaboration with Salehiya est. over the last 5 decades, we have continuously brought innovation to the patients living with diabetes to ensure better health outcomes. In 2022, Novo Nordisk Saudi Arabia was established as an inde-pendent Trading Entity to ensure better commitment towards the society. For more information, visit novonordisk.com.sa

About Novo Nordisk A/S

Novo Nordisk is a leading global healthcare company, founded in 1923 and headquartered in Den-mark. Our purpose is to drive change to defeat serious chronic diseases, built upon our heritage in diabetes. We do so by pioneering scientific breakthroughs, expanding access to our medicines, and working to prevent and ultimately cure disease. Novo Nordisk employs about 69,000 people in 80 countries and markets its products in around 170 countries. For more information, visit novo-nordisk.com, Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn and YouTube.