We are proud to announce the official signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Alfaisal University College of Medicine and Arabio, Arab Company for Pharmaceutical Products, Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This took place on 19th March 2014 at Alfaisal University, Riyadh. Two representatives from Arabio including the CEO were present, together with the Dean, College of Medicine and representatives from the Microbiology & Immunology Department, College of Medicine. With this partnership, Alfaisal University and Arabio propose to collaborate in the area of vaccine research and development.
THE PARTNERSHIP
Arabio is the first biopharmaceutical company in Saudi Arabia specializing in production of human vaccines, and other biopharmaceuticals. Arabio has developed a cGMP manufacturing facility which aim to develop and manufacture high quality products in a cost effective manner. Arabio aims to bring to the markets of the Middle East, North Africa, and other Islamic countries high quality products that comply with the international quality standards.
he faculty and research scientists at the College of Medicine, Alfaisal University bring together a wealth of world-class research experience to facilitate the development of innovative research. This research will aim at improving currently available vaccines and developing new vaccines for infectious diseases particularly those of relevance to the Islamic world. In addition, the extensive network of collaboration with local and international research centers makes Alfaisal University strategically placed to develop such research initiatives. This partnership represents the first such collaboration which fosters smooth technology transfer and translation from vaccine discovery to production.
IMPACT OF THIS COLLABORATION AND VALUE TO SAUDI ARABIA
As immunization remains a highly cost-effective intervention that protects individuals against infections, this collaboration represents a unique initiative at which local pharmaceutical industry will collaborate with educational institution to address local and regional public health and research needs. This partnership will foster the utilization of local resources or resources that can be modified to fit local needs making the end-products more relevant to local needs ( like Halal vaccines.. ) and relatively inexpensive. The vaccine development initiative will focus on products most needed in Saudi Arabia, the GCC region and the Islamic world at large making them relevant not only locally but globally. The partnership will also ensure that a Saudi firm working together with a research centered university, has a creative role in technology transfer and student training in Saudi Arabia. Capability building in Saudi Arabia will be fostered through training the next generation of research scientists as students participate in cutting edge and innovative research.
