MS Pharma has officially inaugurated the first biologics manufacturing facility in the Middle East, strategically located in Saudi Arabia. The facility has received Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) approval from the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), establishing a hub for advanced biopharmaceutical production in the MENA region.
Strategic Investment and Manufacturing Capabilities
The $50 million investment positions MS Pharma as the region's leading biologics player, with formulation, fill & finish, and lyophilization capabilities. The facility is designed to meet the highest international regulatory standards, including EMA and US FDA requirements, and specializes in monoclonal antibodies and complex peptides—two of the most in-demand biologic treatment classes worldwide.
The plant features the region's first in-house bioanalytical testing laboratories, eliminating the need for overseas testing services and accelerating time-to-market for critical treatments. This capability represents a significant advancement for the regional biopharmaceutical infrastructure.
Global Partnership Platform
The facility serves as a strategic enabler for global pharmaceutical companies seeking market access to Saudi Arabia and the MENA region through local manufacturing and contract manufacturing solutions for broader international markets. The strategic location allows the facility to serve the Kingdom, the MENA region, and export markets in the EU and US.
"This launch is a defining milestone for MS Pharma and the MENA biopharmaceutical landscape," said Ghiath Sukhtian, Chairman of MS Pharma. "We are proud to be driving forward a regional biologics platform that aligns with global healthcare demands and delivers high-value, complex medicines in collaboration with international partners."
Alignment with National Vision
Kalle Känd, CEO of MS Pharma, emphasized the facility's broader strategic value: "This facility goes beyond production—it's a strategic enabler for global partnerships, offering regional access and contract manufacturing capacity for the international markets. It also unlocks localization incentives and strengthens our contribution to national and regional goals for local content, high-skilled employment, and technology transfer."
The Riyadh facility aligns with Saudi Arabia's localization goals and Vision 2030, leveraging industrial incentives to reinforce MS Pharma's role as a regional biologics leader with the capabilities, capacity, and compliance to support diverse markets.
Company Background
MS Pharma is a multinational pharmaceutical company founded in 1989 in Amman, Jordan, employing over 2,000 people across 12 countries. The company operates five manufacturing facilities in Jordan, Algeria, and Saudi Arabia, with a portfolio spanning generics, complex injectables, and biosimilars across therapeutic areas including oncology, cardiovascular, and central nervous system disorders.
