Abu Dhabi: KELIX bio, wholly owned by Mubadala Investment Company, an Abu Dhabi sovereign investor, has completed the acquisition of DiabTec LLC, a subsidiary of Julphar. This acquisition strengthens Mubadala’s portfolio of biologicals, establishes its role in biomanufacturing across the MENA region, and supports its efforts to advance the UAE’s life sciences sector through local manufacturing.
According to Emirates News Agency, DiabTec’s facility includes 20,000-liter drug substance reactors and a separate cartridge fill-finish facility for drug products. The state-of-the-art facility is built to EU/US FDA standards and is currently the only one in the GCC of this kind. This strategic acquisition aligns with Mubadala’s commitment to responsible investing, which focuses on addressing critical global challenges, including the growing prevalence of diabetes and demand for microbial-based products such as insulin analogues and GLP-1 to treat such conditions locally and abroad.
Dr. Bakheet Al Katheeri, Chief Executive Officer of Mubadala’s UAE Investments Platform, emphasized the significance of the acquisition, noting its impact on the UAE’s position in the global life sciences ecosystem. He highlighted that the strategic investment aligns with Mubadala’s commitment to responsible investing and addresses critical global healthcare challenges like the increasing need for insulin analogues.
Ismail Ali Abdulla, Executive Director of UAE Clusters at Mubadala’s UAE Investments Platform, underscored the importance of ensuring reliable access to therapeutic solutions like insulin analogues. He noted that the acquisition of DiabTec directly addresses the global demand and supply challenges, strengthening both Mubadala’s and the UAE’s life sciences sectors.
Sheikh Saqer bin Humaid Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Board of Julphar, commented on the sale of the facility as a strategic divestment of non-core assets. He expressed Julphar’s support for Mubadala’s initiative to enhance the pharmaceutical sector in the United Arab Emirates and build broader API manufacturing capabilities in the country.
Hocine Sidi Said, CEO of KELIX bio, stated that the acquisition highlights Mubadala’s commitment to expanding and supporting the growth of the UAE life sciences sector. He emphasized the challenges faced by diabetes patients globally in accessing insulin analogues and KELIX bio’s commitment to improving access to essential treatments.
The acquisition consolidates Mubadala’s presence in the life sciences ecosystem, advances the UAE’s life sciences sector, and positions the nation as a global leader in the industry. It also complements KELIX bio’s recent acquisition of four GlobalOne Healthcare Holding assets, further supporting economic diversification.