Baghdad: The Imam Hussein Holy Shrine announced on Saturday the signing of three major strategic partnerships in the United States to establish a local manufacturing industry for biological, cellular, and gene therapies in Iraq. “In a move described as one of the most significant transformations in the history of the Iraqi health sector, three major strategic and operational partnerships have been signed in the United States. These partnerships represent the scientific and technical foundation for a project to localize the manufacturing of biological, cellular, and gene therapies within Iraq, placing the country on the cusp of a new era of pharmaceutical and technological independence in the most advanced medical fields globally,” said Haidar Hamza Al-Abadi, head of the Health and Medical Education Authority at the Imam Hussein Holy Shrine, in a press release received by the Iraqi News Agency – INA.
According to Iraqi News Agency, Al-Abadi added, “This project was not a fleeting idea, but rather the culmination of a strategic vision that began more than a year ago. It aims to build a comprehensive national system capable of producing advanced treatments within Iraq according to the highest international standards, ending decades of reliance on imports and expensive treatments that prevented thousands of patients, especially children, from accessing timely treatment.”
‘The current phase has resulted in the completion of three pivotal partnerships that represent the project’s cornerstones. These partnerships encompass the industrial, technical, clinical, and academic aspects, as well as logistical integration and technology transfer. This ensures the establishment of a comprehensive system that begins with manufacturing and ends with the delivery of treatment to Iraqi patients,” he noted.
He further stated that “the first partnership was established with Thermo Fisher Scientific, one of the world’s largest companies specializing in life sciences and biotechnology. This partnership provides a state-of-the-art bioreactor and all the necessary laboratory systems as well as advanced technologies for manufacturing biological drugs and precision therapies. This represents the cornerstone for establishing a national industrial base capable of producing treatments that, until recently, were the exclusive domain of a limited number of developed countries.”
‘The second partnership was signed with Boston Children’s Hospital, the principal teaching partner of Harvard University and ranked number one globally in pediatrics for nineteen consecutive years. With over a century and a half of experience, Boston Children’s Hospital will oversee the clinical, administrative, and training aspects of the project. This will ensure the transfer of global expertise and the development of Iraqi personnel capable of managing and operating these technologies according to the best international medical practices,” he added.
He pointed out that “the third partnership involved signing a strategic agreement with a specialized entity in technology transfer and logistical integration. This agreement ensures the integration of all aspects of the project, accelerates the transfer of modern technologies to Iraq, and creates a comprehensive production environment that will allow for the provision of biological, cellular, and gene therapies at prices significantly lower than those in global markets. This will allow Iraqi patients to access the latest treatments without having to travel abroad.”
‘This step is not merely a health project, but a strategic national project that will reshape the landscape of advanced medicine in Iraq. It is based on the advanced infrastructure of the Health and Medical Education Authority, most notably the accumulated expertise in bone marrow transplants performed at Al-Mujtaba Hospital (peace be upon him), in addition to the international accreditation achieved by the Warith International Cancer Treatment Foundation. This provides a solid scientific foundation for implementing the latest treatment technologies according to global standards,” Al-Abadi stated.
Al-Abadi also noted, “Iraq’s acquisition of technologies for manufacturing biological drugs, cell therapies, and gene therapies will represent a historic transformation in healthcare, establishing a new era where Iraq becomes a producer of advanced medical technology, not a consumer. This will contribute to strengthening national pharmaceutical security, reducing spending on treatment abroad, improving the efficiency of the healthcare system, and achieving self-sufficiency in many highly complex treatments.”
‘The project embodies the vision of the Holy Shrine of Imam Hussein in investing in the Iraqi people and transforming scientific knowledge into sustainable national projects,” he said, affirming that “the ultimate goal is for Iraqi patients, especially children suffering from intractable and rare diseases, to receive the latest life-saving treatments within their own country, at standards comparable to the world’s leading medical centers and at costs that are affordable for the average citizen.”
Al-Abadi head of the Health and Medical Education Authority at the Holy Shrine of Imam Hussein, pointed out that ‘what has been achieved today is not the end of the road, but rather the beginning of a new phase in which Iraq will witness the entry into the era of advanced therapeutic industries, becoming a regional center in the field of precision medicine and biological treatments, and writing a new page in the history of national medical achievements, the title of which is that science, when combined with will and strategic vision, creates a safer and healthier future for the upcoming generations.’