Riyadh Global Medical Biotechnology Summit (RGMBS) 2023
The Riyadh Global Medical Biotechnology Summit (RGMBS) 2023 is the second edition of the RGMBS. It was held under the patronage of the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz, and organized by the Ministry of National Guard in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the Health Affairs, in the capital, Riyadh, on January 25, 2023, and lasted for two days. The summit discussed the latest developments in the field of medical biotechnology globally, intending to establish global strategic partnerships in this rapidly growing field and develop programs for the national pharmaceutical industry.
Objectives of RGMBS 2023
The RGMBS 2023 attracted local and international entities involved in research and development within medical biotechnology, healthcare, biopharmaceutical innovation centers, and health research funding. The summit aimed to advance current medical practices, guide them toward sustainable medical biotechnology institutions, showcase biotechnology development models and opportunities, explore strategic academic partnerships for investment in the healthcare industry, and address medical challenges. The summit also aimed to highlight the role of integration between ministries and various government sectors to enhance the quality of medical biotechnology outputs.
Importance of RGMBS 2023
The RGMBS 2023 is part of a series of national initiatives for the medical biotechnology ecosystem in Saudi Arabia, such as the National Biotechnology Strategy Committee and the Riyadh Biotechnology City. It seeks to enhance the national economy based on research, knowledge, and research industries, support innovation and technological development, elevate healthcare, and improve living standards and safety as one of the key areas in the National Transformation Program, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.
Agreements of the RGMBS 2023
The RGMBS 2023 witnessed the signature of eleven memoranda of understanding and cooperation agreements with global leaders in medical biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, including Moderna, AstraZeneca, Novo Nordisk, Boehringer Ingelheim, Pfizer, Roche Products, Sanofi, Novogenomics, Hevolution, and Roche Products.
The agreements included establishing an industrial project for knowledge and technology transfer to manufacture the drug Tradjenta, which is used to treat type two diabetes. They also included enabling artificial intelligence technology to diagnose rare diseases in Saudi Arabia, creating a specialized electronic platform to enable medical staff to diagnose strokes remotely, connecting remote hospitals to the virtual health hospital in Saudi Arabia, and increasing awareness through several scientific development programs.
Additionally, an agreement was signed to establish a center to support research and studies on obesity and metabolic disorders, contributing to providing solutions for metabolic disorders, obesity, and diabetes, assessing treatment centers, and proposing a working memorandum aimed at developing the services provided by these centers.