Thursday 30 October, Riyadh – CSL Seqirus and Vaccine Industrial Company, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia to enhance the biotechnology sector by accessing advanced cell-based seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccines and localizing manufacturing in Saudi Arabia.

Under a finalised agreement, CSL Seqirus, a leading global influenza vaccine manufacturer, would provide its innovative cell-based seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccines and work with Vaccine Industrial Company (VIC), a prominent Saudi vaccine company, to localize manufacturing at VIC’s new Sudair City facility.

The finalised agreement would also establish pre-pandemic vaccine stockpiles for high-risk populations and an Advance Purchase Agreement to secure pandemic vaccines for the broader population, helping elevate Saudi Arabia’s preparedness in case of an influenza pandemic.

Onshore manufacturing would enable scalable volumes, reduce reliance on global supply chains and provide flexibility as Saudi Arabia prioritises public health during mass gatherings such as Hajj, and hosts major events including World EXPO, FIFA World Cup 2034 and Olympic Esports Games.

Cell-based influenza vaccines are designed to be an exact match to WHO-selected influenza strains and help improve vaccine effectiveness by eliminating changes that can occur in the traditional influenza vaccine manufacturing process.^1-4

Cell-based influenza vaccine manufacturing is well suited to enabling pandemic preparedness as it reduces reliance on large volumes of critical materials and is a modern, efficient and highly scalable alternative to traditional manufacturing methods.^5-7

The three parties will work towards closing the agreement, with an ambition to establish pandemic preparedness in 2026 and supply cell-based flu vaccines for the 2026/27 Flu Season.

Dr Lorna Meldrum, CSL Seqirus, VP Commercial Operations, International & Pandemic Response said the company is delighted to sign this important public health partnership.

Dr Meldrum said: “Seasonal influenza has a significant impact on families, the community and the health system in Saudi Arabia. Through this collaboration, we will leverage the best of our differentiated vaccine portfolio with the strength of Vaccine Industrial Company’s local manufacturing expertise and networks to establish the Kingdom as a regional leader in preventing seasonal influenza.”

“CSL Seqirus is an influenza pandemic preparedness and response partner to over 30 governments around the world. This partnership will elevate Saudi Arabia’s influenza pandemic preparedness and response strategies in influenza – which has caused four pandemics over the last century

Dr. Khaled Al-Mosa, Founder and Chairman of Vaccine Industrial Company, said the company is pleased to be contributing to the health and economy of the Kingdom.

Dr Al-Mosa said: “Our vaccine manufacturing facility will begin to come online from 2028, when it will be the first of its kind in the Kingdom and the largest in the Middle East. We are delighted by the prospect of localizing advanced cell-based influenza vaccine manufacturing there for Saudi Arabia and the MENA region.

“Through this collaboration with the Ministry of Health and CSL Seqirus, together we will have the opportunity to enhance the region’s health, help save lives and reduce the impact of flu.”

About Influenza in Saudi Arabia

Influenza is one of the fastest changing vaccine-preventable diseases and causes a significant impact on people and the health system in the Kingdom. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death.

Influenza is spread globally by international travel and can be transmitted by close contact. Large-scale population movements, such as the Hajj, can lead to secondary peaks in flu cases.

In Saudi Arabia, influenza can cause up to 6.3 million mild to moderate cases, 17,600 hospitalisations, and 4,440 deaths annually.⁸ In 2024, 96 percent of patients admitted to intensive care with influenza in Saudi Arabia had not been vaccinated.⁹

An influenza epidemic in Saudi Arabia could cost society up to $1.33B USD in healthcare and productivity costs, while circulation during the hajj period could cost society up to $292M USD.¹⁰

References

1. Rajaram S, et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(15):5423.
2. Rajaram S, et al. Ther Adv Vaccines Immunother. 2020;8:2515135520908121.
3. Wu NC, et al. Cell Host Microbe. 2019;25(6):836-844.
4. Stein A, et al. Infectious Diseases and Therapy; October 2025 doi.org/10.1007/s40121-025-01230-2.
5. CDC. Cell-based flu vaccines. cdc.gov/flu/vaccine-types/cell-based.html. Accessed October 2025.
6. Wright PF. N Engl J Med. 2008;358(24):2540-2543.
7. Doroshenko A, et al. Expert Rev Vaccines. 2009;8(6):679-688
8. Alshahrani AM, et al.. J Epidemiol Glob Health. 2025 Mar 20;15(1):47.
9. Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia. 2025. Available at: moh.gov.sa/en/Ministry/MediaCenter/News/Pages/News-2025-09-14-001. Accessed October 2025.
10. Assiri AM, et al. IJID Reg. 2023 Nov 25;10:80-86.