Interview Spotlight: Samir Khalil, Executive Director of PhRMA Middle East and Africa

In a recent interview with Asharq Alawsat, Samir Khalil, Executive Director of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) Middle East and Africa, discussed the ongoing need for strong intellectual property (IP) protections, increased investment in biopharmaceutical research and development and global collaboration to foster a robust innovation ecosystem in Saudi Arabia.

COVID-19 Clinical Development Advancements in MENA

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact patients globally, clinical researchers throughout the Middle East and North Africa are rapidly testing investigational medicines and vaccine candidates in clinical trials. These trials are vital to determining the impact a potential new treatment may have on patients, while providing necessary insights to drive promising COVID-19 therapies forward in a quick, safe and efficient manner.

With the Right Policies in Place, Health Care Innovation Can Push Saudi Arabia Toward its Vision 2030

Among the generation of young Saudi innovators and entrepreneurs who are contributing to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 are Meshal Al-Harasani and Dr. Mohammed Alshehri. Both inventors are highly accomplished and have developed transformative medical device technology.

EU Commission Report: Saudi Arabia Must Improve IP Protection

Improving intellectual property (IP) protection and enforcement will be critical to achieving Saudi Arabia’s health care goals. But the European Commission’s biennial “Report on the Protection and Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights in Third Countries” shows there is still much work to do.