Saidal Chief Unveils Algeria’s First Cell and Gene Therapy Institute, Says Project Will Bring Advanced Medical Technologies Home
BY Dr. Hana Saada
Algiers — Algeria is preparing to establish its first national Institute of Cell and Gene Therapy, a flagship project led by the state-owned pharmaceutical group Saidal, with the aim of introducing cutting-edge medical technologies, strengthening domestic biomedical research and reducing the need for patients to seek advanced treatment abroad.
The project was presented by Professor Mourad Belkhalfa, Chief Executive Officer of Saidal, following President Abdelmadjid Tebboune‘s laying of the foundation stone for the institute during a recent visit to the new city of Sidi Abdellah.
Belkhalfa said the initiative reflects Algeria’s ambition to acquire the world’s most advanced medical technologies while relying on the expertise of Algerian scientists working both at home and abroad.
He added that members of the Algerian scientific diaspora would play a central role in transferring advanced technologies and embedding specialised expertise within the country’s healthcare and research ecosystem.
Integrated Research, Production and Patient Care
According to Belkhalfa, the institute has been designed as a comprehensive ecosystem combining scientific research, advanced biopharmaceutical production and specialised clinical care within a single facility.
Its organisational structure is built around three complementary pillars.
The first will focus on research and development, fostering collaboration between researchers based in Algeria and Algerian scientists working internationally to facilitate technology transfer and strengthen national scientific capabilities.
The second pillar will serve as the institute’s manufacturing centre, producing stem cells and immune cells for innovative cellular therapies that meet international scientific standards.
The third component will comprise a specialised clinic dedicated to treating patients, particularly those with advanced cancers who have not responded successfully to conventional therapies such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
Beyond Cancer Treatment
Belkhalfa said the institute’s mission extends well beyond oncology.
It will also develop regenerative medicine, using cell-based therapies to repair damaged tissues and organs and address the underlying causes of chronic diseases rather than merely treating symptoms.
Gene therapy will represent another major area of activity, supporting the treatment of rare, inherited and orphan diseases affecting Algerian patients, including beta-thalassaemia, sickle cell disease, Gaucher disease and other genetic disorders.
The institute also plans to expand stem cell-based therapies for autoimmune diseases by developing treatments aimed at regulating immune responses and promoting tissue regeneration.
Advanced Fertility Technologies
Among the institute’s planned services will be the introduction, for the first time in Algeria, of advanced reproductive technologies capable of detecting genetic abnormalities in embryos before implantation.
According to Belkhalfa, these techniques will improve the management of infertility, including cases of azoospermia, one of the leading causes of male infertility.
He said the adoption of these technologies could increase the success rate of fertility treatments from approximately 12% to 56%, while reducing age-related limitations that
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