Vertex and The Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs (MNGHA) Announce Continued Partnership to Advance Patient Care and Healthcare Capabilities in Saudi Arabia

• Renewed collaboration and expanded clinical education initiatives strengthen local expertise and support continued innovation in gene therapy care
• MNGHA & Vertex alliance resulted in the initiation and infusion of multiple patients living with sickle cell disease (SCD) and transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia (TDT)

Ain Alalam – Rashad Iskandrni

Vertex Pharmaceuticals, a global biotechnology company, and the Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs (MNGHA) today announced the renewal and expansion of their strategic partnership at the Riyadh Global Medical Biotechnology Summit (RGMBS). Building on a successful collaboration established following Saudi Arabia’s first gene therapy infusion in 2024, the renewed partnership reflects a shared commitment to advancing patient care, strengthening clinical expertise, and supporting healthcare capability development in the Kingdom through ongoing knowledge exchange and innovation.

Since receiving Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) approval, this historic collaboration has successfully expanded access to this one-time functional cure and treated additional eligible SCD and TDT patients in Saudi Arabia.

As part of the renewed two-year partnership, MNGHA and Vertex announced plans for a third joint clinical Preceptorship program. Following the success of the first two Preceptorship programs, this upcoming educational forum aims to exchange scientific knowledge, share clinical protocols, and prepare the next generation of Saudi healthcare professionals to safely and effectively deliver innovative cell and gene therapies (CGTs).  Beyond healthcare professional education, MNGHA and Vertex continue to collaborate on clinical research initiatives, including participation in clinical trials and real-world evidence generation. Together, these efforts advance key objectives of the landmark memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in 2024 with the Ministry of Health (MoH), Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia (MISA), and Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources (MIMR), supporting both the development of local scientific talent and the advancement of clinical research capabilities in the Kingdom.

Commenting on the milestone, H.E. Dr. Bandar Al Knawy, Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs (MNGHA), stated: “Celebrating two years since the Kingdom’s historic first gene therapy infusion alongside the renewal of our partnership with Vertex is a profound milestone. This summit is the perfect stage to showcase how MNGHA, together with Vertex, is translating the ambitious goals of Saudi Vision 2030 and the National Biotechnology Strategy into real-world patient impact. By renewing our partnership with Vertex, we are ensuring that Saudi Arabia remains at the global forefront of biotechnology, offering sustainable, long-term access to life-changing innovations.”

“Our partnership with MNGHA continues to evolve beyond treatment delivery to include clinical education, knowledge exchange, participation in clinical trials and real-world evidence generation in addition to initiatives that help strengthen local healthcare capabilities in Saudi Arabia. We look forward to deepening our collaboration through initiatives like the third edition of the Preceptorship, establishing the Kingdom as a leading hub for advanced treatments”, said Hisham Hagar, Executive Country Manager, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, GCC Region.

“Gene therapy is one of the most complex clinical pathways in modern medicine, requiring flawless collaboration across multi-disciplinary teams. The continued evolution of the Vertex-MNGHA collaboration has helped strengthen the multidisciplinary expertise required to safely and effectively deliver advanced gene therapies”, said Dr. Mohsen AlZahrani, Assistant Professor and Consultant of Hematology/ Stem Cell Transplant Consultant Section Head, Adult Stem Cell Transplant & Cellular Therapy Department of Oncology, at King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh.

“Hereditary blood disorders impose an immense emotional, physical, and financial burden on young patients and their families. With gene therapy, we can offer more than just medical treatment; we can restore a normal childhood and lift a lifelong weight off the shoulders of families”, said Dr. Mohammed Essa, Deputy Chairman Pediatric Hematology/ Oncology Section Head, Pediatric Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, King Abdullah Specialist Children Hospital, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh.

About Vertex

Vertex is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation to create transformative medicines for people with serious diseases and conditions. The company has approved therapies for cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia and acute pain, and it continues to advance clinical and research programs in these areas. Vertex also has a robust clinical pipeline of investigational therapies across a range of modalities in other serious diseases where it has deep insight into causal human biology, including neuropathic pain, APOL1-mediated kidney disease, IgA nephropathy, primary membranous nephropathy, autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, type 1 diabetes and myotonic dystrophy type 1.

Vertex was founded in 1989 and has its global headquarters in Boston, with international headquarters in London. Additionally, the company has research and development sites and commercial offices in North America, Europe, Australia, Latin America and the Middle East. Vertex is consistently recognized as one of the industry’s top places to work, including 16 consecutive years on science magazine’s Top Employers list and one of Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For. For company updates and to learn more about Vertex’s history of innovation, visit https://www.vrtx.com/ar-gcc/.

About the Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs (MNGHA)

Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs (MNGHA), a regional leader in delivering the right health care for the patients at the right time. The MNGHA is an internationally respected healthcare organization providing a wide range of clinical, academic, and research programs from public health and primary care to the fine tertiary care specialties and sub-specialties. We provide our patients with the very best of patient-centered health care approaches, emphasizing safety, quality, and memorable positive experiences capitalizing on its valuable affiliations.

The MNGHA is a world leader in health information technology and its application in healthcare. It is the world’s first to earn a quadruple Stage 7 by HIMSS, and the first hospital in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa to achieve the revalidation of Stage 7 on Electronic Medical Record Adoption Model (EMRAM 7) under its new modernized standards. In addition, MNGHA is the second health organization in the world to obtain Stage 7 on Infrastructure Adoption Model (INFRAM 7).

Notably, MNGHA is one of the most important health care organizations in the Kingdom, and was chosen as a center of excellence to adopt and develop artificial intelligence applications for cardiovascular and strokes diseases, in cooperation with the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA).

 To learn more, visit mngha.med.sa.