Mubadala, G42 to set up biopharma manufacturing campus in Abu Dhabi

Mubadala Investment Company and G42 have signed an agreement to establish a new biopharmaceutical manufacturing campus (Biopharma Campus) in Abu Dhabi.

The facility will focus on vaccine and therapeutic products to “strengthen regional supply chains” and support the UAE’s diversification plan, a statement said.

It will look at end-to-end manufacturing of biologics and host anchor partnerships with contract manufacturing and development organisations (CDMOs).

A CDMO model enables manufacturers to work with multiple players to reduce product risk and enable economies of scale.

The Biopharma Campus will also invest in and establish multiple biopharma initiatives.

The agreement is part of Mubadala’s strategy to develop a sustainable healthcare and life science ecosystem within Abu Dhabi, the statement said.

“Global supply shortages and the limited amount of advanced manufacturing activity within the region has resulted in biopharmaceuticals becoming a high growth market (with 10 per cent CAGR over the past five years) and a priority investment area for Mubadala within the life sciences sector,” it added.

The ability of biopharmaceutical products to address previously untreatable conditions has also led to strong future growth potential.

Musabbeh Al Kaabi, CEO of UAE Investments at Mubadala, said: “Bringing manufacturing technologies to the UAE will not only strengthen our nation’s biopharma supply chain and pandemic response, but provide opportunities for local talent development and long-term, sustainable economic growth.”

Peng Xiao, group CEO at G42, added: “Over the years, AI and cloud computing technologies have come of age. From their humble origins in the tech sector a decade ago, today these technologies are leveraged across a wide array of industries that value speed, scalability, innovation and resilience. There is a massive opportunity for pharma and healthcare companies to leverage AI and cloud technologies to improve their processes.”