Read the Conversation
Meeting highlights:
- Sandoz's Presence in Saudi Arabia: How Sandoz has strengthened its commitment by establishing a fully operational trading entity and designating Saudi Arabia as the home of its Middle East and Africa (MEA) regional headquarters.
- Focus on Biosimilars: Sandoz is a pioneer company in generics and biosimilars, with a broad portfolio.
- Access and affordability: How the company aims to improve access to high-quality, affordable medicines, aligning with Saudi Arabia's healthcare transformation goals.
- Sandoz as a newly standalone company: How the company is thriving in Saudi Arabia after one year of being an independent company.
- Use of AI and Data: Sandoz views AI as a key enabler of innovation, efficiency, and resilience in healthcare, with opportunities to apply these technologies across the Saudi healthcare system.
- Sandoz as a Top Employer 2025: The importance of leadership in fostering a culture of equality in the workplace.
- Diversity and Inclusion: Sandoz promoting diversity with a 35% female representation and a 53% of the leadership team overseeing Saudi organization being females.
EF: Could you provide more details on Sandoz's footprint in Saudi Arabia and your current priorities?
AB: Sandoz, a global leader in generic and biosimilar medicines, has a long-standing presence in Saudi Arabia. In October 2023, Sandoz became an independent company following its spin-off from Novartis. Since then, we have strengthened our commitment to the Kingdom by establishing a fully operational trading entity and designating Saudi Arabia as the home of our Middle East and Africa (MEA) regional headquarters.
Our presence in Saudi Arabia now includes a scientific office, local trading entity, regional headquarters, and warehousing operations in Jeddah — enabling us to better serve the needs of patients and healthcare partners across the region. Previously, we supplied the market through a European hub, but localizing our logistics has significantly enhanced our flexibility and responsiveness.
Since 2022, we have significantly expanded our local workforce, reflecting our long-term commitment to contributing to the Kingdom’s healthcare vision. The inauguration of our MEA headquarters in Riyadh marks a key milestone in our journey to support the Saudi Healthcare Transformation Strategy. Through this platform, we aim to expand access to our broad portfolio of over 1,500 medicines — including a growing pipeline of more than 20 biologics — and help build a more resilient, patient-centered healthcare ecosystem in Saudi Arabia and beyond.
EF: Sandoz boasts a robust portfolio with 450 products, including a pipeline of 28 biosimilars. How does the portfolio translate to the Saudi market, and what are your customers' requirements?
AB: Sandoz plays a vital role in improving access to high-quality, affordable medicines globally — a mission that’s particularly relevant in today’s rapidly evolving healthcare environment. As more originator biologics lose exclusivity, biosimilars become key enablers of broader patient access and more sustainable healthcare systems. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sandoz demonstrated this value by ensuring a continued global supply of essential medicines.
We are proud to be a pioneer in biosimilars, having launched the world’s first approved biosimilar in 2006. Today, we offer 11 biosimilars globally and are advancing a robust pipeline of 28 more. In 2024, biosimilar use—including those from Sandoz—helped health systems in the US and EU save close to USD 19 billion. The potential social impact of such savings could reach up to USD 400 billion annually by freeing resources for healthcare infrastructure, innovation, and new treatments.
Saudi Arabia is a strategically important market, distinguished by its growing population of 19 million citizens and 16 million expatriates and its ambitious healthcare agenda under Vision 2030. Despite being the 15th largest pharmaceutical market globally, the Kingdom ranks 11th in terms of biologics access, reflecting strong regulatory support and investment in patient care.
The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) approved its first biosimilar — Somatropin — in 2014 and has since approved around 38 biosimilar products (equivalent to 83 across strengths and dosage forms for 14 reference molecules). This signals a significant opportunity for continued expansion. By introducing more biosimilars, the healthcare system can optimize spending on high-cost treatments and reallocate resources toward innovation, infrastructure, and expanded access.
At Sandoz, we are committed to bringing these benefits to Saudi Arabia by leveraging our global expertise and partnering with stakeholders to support the Kingdom’s healthcare transformation journey.
EF: Could you share what makes Saudi Arabia a good place to consider for investment?
AB Saudi Arabia presents a uniquely compelling environment for healthcare investment — one defined by clear policy direction, regulatory excellence, and a commitment to sustainable innovation. The Kingdom’s healthcare transformation, guided by Vision 2030, creates a dynamic and forward-looking ecosystem that prioritizes value-based care, digital innovation, and expanded access.
A key enabler of this transformation is the government’s push toward privatization and public-private partnerships (PPPs), which is unlocking significant opportunities for private and international stakeholders. Investors benefit from a system that is not only evolving rapidly but also focused on delivering measurable health outcomes through efficient, patient-centered models of care.
Another important pillar is regulatory maturity. The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has achieved WHO maturity level 4, placing it among the most advanced regulatory authorities globally. This level of oversight ensures the safety and quality of healthcare interventions while creating a stable and predictable environment for innovation and market entry.
For companies like Sandoz, which focuses on high-quality, cost-effective therapies such as biosimilars, Saudi Arabia offers an unparalleled opportunity to align with national healthcare goals. Our model — built on access, affordability, and scientific excellence — is well-matched to the Kingdom’s emphasis on optimizing healthcare outcomes and enhancing system sustainability. In this environment, each dollar invested has the potential to deliver not only strong returns but also a meaningful impact on population health.
EF: What growth opportunities have you identified in the market? Can you share specific initiatives? Are there any therapeutic areas that we should pay special attention to?
AB: At Sandoz, we have identified several key areas of growth in Saudi Arabia that align with national healthcare priorities and areas of unmet medical need. Our strategic focus spans immunology, oncology, endocrinology—particularly growth hormone therapies—and select specialty and OTC medicines.
Immunology is a cornerstone of our global and regional strategy, where we aim to improve access to advanced therapies for patients with chronic autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. Sandoz is a longstanding partner to healthcare systems in oncology, offering a comprehensive portfolio that includes chemotherapy agents, targeted therapies in development, and a robust pipeline of oncology-focused biosimilars.
Growth hormone therapy is another critical area. Sandoz was the first to develop a biosimilar growth hormone in 2006 and in response to the recent global supply challenges, we have proactively expanded our manufacturing capacity to ensure continuous access for patients worldwide. In this sense, Sandoz has entered into a multi-year partnership with Just – Evotec Biologics to develop and manufacture multiple biosimilars. This collaboration provides Sandoz access to Evotec's AI-driven technology platform, supporting the expansion of its biosimilar pipeline from 15 to 24 assets.
Beyond medicines, we are deeply committed to supporting patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers. In Saudi Arabia, we have launched tailored patient support programs — including educational initiatives for families managing growth hormone therapy — and provide training on the safe and effective use of treatment devices. Our programs also support immunology and hematology patients, reinforcing our broader mission to improve outcomes across the care continuum.
Additionally, we recognize the importance of real-world data in shaping healthcare's future. We are actively partnering with Saudi institutions to support clinical registries and contribute to evidence generation across therapeutic areas. These collaborations help inform policy, improve care pathways, and enhance local capacity.
Continuous medical education and collaborative partnerships are at the heart of our approach. We are proud to work closely with healthcare institutions, professionals, and authorities to advance shared goals — ensuring that innovation, access, and affordability go hand in hand.
EF: What are your thoughts on the future use of AI and data in Saudi Arabia?
AB: Artificial intelligence is reshaping healthcare, and at Sandoz, we view it as a key enabler of innovation, efficiency, and resilience. In Saudi Arabia, national investments in AI and digital transformation — aligned with Vision 2030 — create strong opportunities to apply these technologies across the healthcare system.
AI has the potential to accelerate drug discovery, improve forecasting, and strengthen supply chains — all of which are essential for ensuring uninterrupted access to medicines. The pandemic highlighted the need for resilient systems, and AI can help us better anticipate and respond to evolving demands.
By combining data-driven insights with deep scientific expertise, Sandoz is committed to supporting Saudi Arabia’s healthcare evolution and ensuring patients benefit from smarter, more sustainable solutions.
EF: Can you explain the strategic significance of Sandoz Saudi Arabia to headquarters? What value do you bring to the group?
AB: Saudi Arabia holds strategic importance for Sandoz as both a high-growth market and a regional hub for the Middle East and Africa with its strong access to biologics and ranking as the 11th largest market globally in this space.
Our operations in Saudi Arabia reflect this commitment: we have established a local trading entity, regional headquarters in Riyadh, and warehouse operations in Jeddah to ensure reliable supply and proximity to patients. These investments also align with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, the Healthcare Transformation Strategy, and the Royal Commission’s regional headquarters program.
Saudi Arabia’s strategic value lies not only in its market size but also in its role as a catalyst for broader regional growth. By fostering local partnerships, supporting data-driven healthcare, and advancing access to affordable, high-quality medicines, our team directly contributes to Sandoz’s global mission and sets a strong model for other emerging markets.
EF: After seven years at Sandoz, including three years as the Saudi Arabia General Manager, how would you like to be remembered, and what do you consider your biggest accomplishment?
AB: I would like to be remembered as someone who added lasting value to the business and the people I had the privilege to work with. One of my proudest achievements has been building and empowering a talented local team in Saudi Arabia — growing from our first employee to a strong, purpose-driven organization. Watching colleagues develop, take on new responsibilities, and thrive professionally has been deeply fulfilling.
I also take pride in our role in improving access to high-quality, affordable medicines, particularly in immunology, where patients in Saudi Arabia now benefit from advanced treatment options at significantly reduced costs. Sandoz has been at the forefront of biosimilar innovation, and I am proud that our efforts are helping to enhance the quality of life for more patients while supporting the sustainability of healthcare systems.
After seven years with Sandoz—including three as General Manager in Saudi Arabia—I deeply appreciate the company’s mission and impact. Working in healthcare is a privilege. It allows us to contribute to what truly matters: health and education—the two pillars that underpin the growth of any society. That is the legacy I hope to leave.
