US-based cell and gene therapy CDMO Porton Advanced Solutions and Egyptian drug maker EVA Pharma have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to enhance CAR T-cell therapy access in the Middle East and Africa.
The collaboration aims to bolster CAR T-cell therapy development and manufacturing at EVA Pharma’s facilities, improving access to advanced immunotherapies in the region.
The partnership will focus on the development and large-scale production of lentiviral vectors, crucial for CAR T-cell therapies targeting leukaemia and other blood cancers.
Porton Advanced will use its expertise in viral vector and CAR-T cell therapy process development to aid EVA Pharma in delivering effective and scalable treatments.
The collaboration combines Porton Advanced’s latest capabilities with EVA Pharma’s regional infrastructure and market presence.
The agreement seeks to align with global efforts to expand advanced immunotherapies, particularly in regions with limited cell and gene therapy infrastructure.
It aims to establish local production hubs in Egypt and Saudi Arabia to reduce costs, shorten treatment timelines and set new standards for oncology care in the Middle East and Africa.
EVA Pharma CEO Riad Armanious said: “Patients battling cancer deserve more than hope; they deserve access to innovations once thought out of reach.
“Together, EVA Pharma and Porton Advanced are combining our capabilities to localise innovation, at scale and with equity.”
EVA Pharma is a healthcare company providing affordable, high-quality medicines, focusing on innovation, development, and sustainable access.
The company employs 5,000 professionals and produces over one million healthcare products daily across four advanced manufacturing facilities.
Porton Advanced Solutions, a subsidiary of Porton Pharma Solutions, operates two GMP sites in Suzhou, China, offering end-to-end CDMO solutions for ATMPs.
The company provides services ranging from cell banking and process development to cGMP production and commercialisation.
Porton Advanced specialises in plasmids, viral vectors, cell therapy CMC services, and nucleic acid therapies, with advanced facilities spanning 21,000m2.
Porton Advanced CFO Andrew Chen said: “We are excited to collaborate with EVA Pharma to make transformative cell therapies more accessible.
“This partnership marks a sustainable model for advanced therapy manufacturing in emerging markets.
“This collaboration aligns with our vision of supporting cutting-edge treatments globally accessible and further validates Porton Advanced’s unique value in facilitating global advanced therapy pipelines.”
