Riyadh: The Drug Innovation Conference, organized by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), began today at the authority’s headquarters in Riyadh, coinciding with World Creativity and Innovation Day. SFDA CEO Dr. Hisham bin Saad Aljadhey delivered an opening address emphasizing that innovation is a cornerstone in building a sustainable pharmaceutical system that contributes to drug security and scientific excellence. He pointed out that the Kingdom is advancing in this direction by developing research, regulatory, and industrial infrastructures in line with the objectives of the Health Sector Transformation Program, one of the key programs of Saudi Vision 2030.
According to Saudi Press Agency, Dr. Aljadhey noted that the authority, in cooperation with its partners in both the public and private sectors, is working to create an environment supportive of innovation and to empower national industries to develop promising and innovative pharmaceutical products. The conference was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, the Ministry of Investment, the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property, the Saudi National Institute of Health, King Saud University, and the Research, Development, and Innovation Authority – reflecting the importance of the conference in anticipating the future of drug innovation both locally and globally.
The sessions addressed the role of government authorities in supporting pharmaceutical innovation, future trends in drug development, applications of artificial intelligence in treatment discovery, regulatory and clinical aspects of innovative treatments, and reviewed initiatives by the UN World Health Organization (WHO) in this field. Through the conference, the SFDA aims to strengthen its role in supporting research and innovation, reaffirm its mission to be a global leader in enhancing the quality and safety of pharmaceutical products, and highlight its efforts in the fields under its supervision in line with its Fourth Strategy.