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SOHAR Port and Freezone has signed a land lease agreement with Pharma Investment Group, a joint venture between Omani investors and Algeria’s Spa IMGSA Group, to establish a pharmaceutical and medical supplies manufacturing facility within SOHAR Freezone. Spanning 40,000 sqm, this $20 million investment underscores SOHAR’s commitment to fostering a vibrant investment ecosystem that transforms trade in Oman through sustainable practices. With construction expected to commence in 2027, the new facility will be designed and built to meet the highest international standards, Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) guidelines, and additional specialized international standards, including ISO 9001, and ISO 13485 certifications. The project will feature both sterile and non-sterile production lines, advanced Quality Control laboratories, and Research and Development units. Additionally, it will house a dedicated training center focused on developing national talent in pharmaceutical manufacturing and quality management. The project also includes the establishment of a comprehensive Research and Development Laboratory to drive innovation. Leveraging SPA IMGSA Group’s expertise as a GMP-certified leader in North Africa and Europe, the project will manufacture a diverse portfolio of healthcare products, including antibiotics, oncology treatments, medical gloves, sterile gauze, and medical consumables. This initiative will advance green manufacturing within SOHAR Freezone’s integrated framework, creating strong synergies in logistics,...

Wesam Medical Holding, a Saudi healthcare investment company, has announced the signing of a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with McLaren Health Care, one of the largest healthcare systems in the state of Michigan, United States, and operator of the Karmanos Cancer Institute, to establish a specialized hematology and oncology hospital in Riyadh. Under the terms of the MOU, Wesam Medical Holding will oversee all legal, regulatory, and local market operations, while McLaren Health Care will be responsible for clinical, operational, and technical components, including hospital design and construction. This partnership marks a significant milestone in Saudi Arabia’s healthcare sector, representing McLaren’s entry into the Kingdom to provide comprehensive, integrated services for hematology and oncology patients. The collaboration will extend the reach of the system’s renowned Karmanos Cancer Institute, designated by the U.S. National Cancer Institute as a Comprehensive Cancer Center. The MOU was signed by Mr. Fahad Ibrahim Al-Khalaf, Chairman of Wesam Medical Holding Company, and Dr. Barton Buxton, President and Chief Executive Officer of McLaren Health Management Group, a subsidiary of McLaren Health Care. The partnership aims to transform oncology services in the Kingdom, aligning with the objectives of the Health Sector.

It has been another stellar week for Genedrive after it revealed signs of commercial traction for its technology, followed by news of potential fresh investment. The company develops rapid molecular diagnostics designed for use at the point of care, without the need for complex laboratory infrastructure. Its flagship Genedrive platform delivers genetic test results in under an hour from a portable, battery-operated device. Its tests target areas where fast genetic insights can change treatment decisions, notably its CYP2C19 test for stroke patients and its MT-RNR1 test, which identifies newborns at risk of hearing loss from certain antibiotics. Genedrive’s uniqueness lies in combining molecular precision with real-time clinical usability in acute and resource-limited healthcare settings. Earlier this week, it announced that its distributor in Saudi Arabia had signed a memorandum of understanding with the country’s Ministry of Health to pilot its genetic testing technology as part of a national hearing health initiative. The agreement will see the Genedrive MT-RNR1 ID Kit tested under the ‘Generations Hear’ programme, which forms part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy to modernise healthcare through precision medicine and preventive care. Then on Friday, the group said it was in talks with one of its main shareholders that could see it secure a...

The global cold chain packaging materials market is poised for significant growth, projected to reach US$ 15.7 billion by 2032 from an estimated US$ 9.5 billion in 2025, registering a CAGR of 7.6% during the forecast period. This growth is largely driven by the increasing demand from the pharmaceutical sector, expansion of the frozen food industry, and a shift towards sustainable packaging solutions. Among various product types, paper and paperboard packaging emerges as the leading segment, accounting for 42% market share in 2025, due to its cost-effectiveness, recyclability, and eco-friendly profile. Geographically, Europe dominates, capturing over 30% revenue share in 2025, fueled by stringent regulatory frameworks, advanced food logistics systems, and a strong pharmaceutical manufacturing base.

Cipla's global chief executive and managing director, Umang Vohra, will step down at the end of March after almost a decade in the top role, the Indian drugmaker said on Thursday. Achin Gupta, the firm's global chief operating officer, will take over from April 1, 2026 for five years, the company said. Gupta joined Cipla in 2021 and has been in his current role since February. He was the CEO of Cipla's India business, its biggest, and expanded the company's chronic therapy drugs. "I think Gupta's strength...lies in licensing and M&A and with Cipla now having good cash, we expect he would leverage that experience to put the cash to use," Vishal Manchanda from Systematix Institutional Equities said. Vohra told reporters that "if there is a requirement of the board, then obviously, I'm happy to help in whatever form," but refused to share his plan after he steps down. NEW STRATEGY FOR CIPLA There will be "shades of a new" strategy with the new management given the geopolitical sensitivity in some markets, Vohra said, adding that Cipla must become an innovation player over the next five-to-seven years. "I think there will be more investments in that," he said. The firm, India's third-largest drugmaker by sales, beat quarterly...

Jordan’s exports of pharmaceutical preparations (human medicines) grew by 6% from the beginning of this year through the end of August, compared to the same period last year, driven by several factors—chief among them, the royal support and high-level attention given to the sector. According to Dr. Fadi Al-Atrash, representative of the therapeutic industries and medical supplies sector at the Jordan Chamber of Industry, the Kingdom’s pharmaceutical exports reached 398 million dinars by the end of August 2025, up from 376 million dinars during the same period last year, based on data from the Department of Statistics. Al-Atrash told the Jordan News Agency (Petra) that pharmaceutical exports have maintained their strong performance since the beginning of the year, supported by multiple pillars, foremost of which is the continuous support and interest from His Majesty King Abdullah II. He highlighted the King’s ongoing efforts to help open new export markets and create opportunities for Jordanian companies, recalling His Majesty’s recent visits to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, which yielded tangible results in this regard. He added that Jordan’s pharmaceutical products have entered new export markets, contributing to the sector’s overall growth. This has been accompanied by the registration of new, innovative products that meet market...

India on Monday advanced an anti-dumping investigation into imports from China and Thailand of Ethambutol Hydrochloride, an active pharmaceutical ingredient used in anti-tuberculosis drugs, by releasing a list of registered interested parties. The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) launched the investigation last month following a petition by domestic drugmaker Lupin Ltd, which alleged that imports were being dumped at unfairly low prices, hurting Indian producers. The investigation comes as India ramps up efforts to counter unfair trade practices that disadvantage domestic industries. The trade remedies body issued 15 final findings of such practices in September across sectors ranging from glass fiber and steel to solar cells and chemical products. The DGTR, in a statement on Monday, named Lupin as the domestic industry participant and Chinese producer Wuhan Wuyao Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd among the foreign respondents. It said there was evidence of dumping and injury, with imports undercutting domestic prices. The probe will cover the period April 2024–March 2025, and may result in anti-dumping duties if the findings confirm injury to Indian industry. The DGTR initiated 13 new anti-dumping and countervailing cases in September, covering imports largely from China and South Korea.

U.S. drugmaker Pfizer could work its connections within President Donald Trump's administration to try to thwart Novo Nordisk's surprise rival bid to acquire U.S. obesity biotech firm Metsera, analysts, investors and lawyers said on Thursday. Danish obesity and diabetes drug giant Novo said on Thursday it had bested Pfizer's already agreed-upon deal, kicking off a fight for advantage in the market analysts forecast will grow to $150 billion. The next step is Pfizer's, which has four business days to make a counteroffer, Metsera said, describing Novo's bid as "superior." A Pfizer spokesperson did not have an immediate comment on whether the company would do so. The company has also said it is ready to legally challenge Novo's bid. The Trump administration is relatively transactional and tends to favor U.S.-oriented or politically savvy companies, Bernstein analyst Courtney Breen said. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla has particularly close ties to the president, she added. "If there is the potential for any political interference ... Pfizer is on the right side of that equation at this point," Breen said.

Biotech firm CSL (CSL.AX), opens new tab said on Thursday its vaccine arm, CSL Seqirus and Vaccine Industrial Company, had inked a deal with Saudi Arabia's Health Ministry to localize manufacturing of cell-based seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccines. The deal comes a few days later after Australia's CSL said it was no longer targeting to complete the spin off of Seqirus in fiscal 2026 amid heightened volatility in the U.S. vaccine markets

NEOM has signed a strategic memorandum of understanding with WuXi AppTec, one of the world’s leading companies in contract research, development, and manufacturing services in the pharmaceutical industry. Under the agreement, the two parties will collaborate to explore opportunities for localizing pharmaceutical research, development, and manufacturing capabilities in the Kingdom, SPA reported. In the long term, the cooperation aims to establish a world-class contract development and manufacturing facility within OXAGON, NEOM’s clean and advanced industries city, or at other locations across Saudi Arabia. In support of the Kingdom’s strategies for economic diversification and innovation, the MoU represents a major step toward realizing national ambitions in the biotechnology sector and reflects a shared commitment to driving sustainable growth in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors. This partnership embodies the convergence of global expertise and the Kingdom’s visionary leadership in building an advanced biopharmaceutical manufacturing ecosystem. It marks a significant move toward creating a fully integrated industrial environment serving regional and global markets, leveraging OXAGON’s clean-industry framework and WuXi AppTec’s leading capabilities in pharmaceutical innovation. The agreement highlights a strategic and intellectual alignment between two pioneering entities: WuXi AppTec’s global experience in advancing biopharmaceutical innovation, and NEOM’s pivotal role as a key enabler of Saudi Arabia’s National...