Lifera Enters into Strategic Collaboration with CENTOGENE
Monday, July 03, 2023
CENTOGENE and Lifera announced a strategic collaboration with the establishment of a joint venture (JV) to improve patient access to quality multiomics locally and regionally in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
Under the terms of the collaboration, CENTOGENE will receive a $30 million mandatory convertible loan from Lifera. This partnership will not only facilitate biopharma research in rare diseases but also support collaborative research initiatives in Saudi Arabia and with global partners.
This strategic collaboration aligns with Lifera's mission to foster the growth of Saudi Arabia's biopharma sector. Leveraging CENTOGENE's expertise in rare, metabolic, and neurodegenerative diseases, the joint venture aims to deliver timely and accurate diagnoses that are crucial for patients and their families.
The JV will establish an advanced laboratory and bioinformatics infrastructure, leveraging the CENTOGENE Biodatabank. This biodatabank is the world's largest integrated multiomic data repository in rare disease biobanks and neurodegenerative diseases, encompassing more than 70 million datasets, including over 35,000 from Saudi Arabian patients.
By working closely with CENTOGENE globally, the joint venture will develop genetic testing and interpretation capabilities, acting as a platform for large-scale national screening and genomics programmes.
