RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center (“KFSHRC”) is revolutionizing cancer treatment in the region with transformative therapies such as CAR-T cell therapy and CRISPR gene editing. With over 40 years of expertise, KFSHRC has established itself as a global leader in providing innovative personalized cancer treatments.
In 2023, the Center of Excellence in Oncology treated 25% of all cancer cases reported in Saudi Arabia, achieving an overall cure rate of 50% and an exceptional cure rate of 90% for patients with leukemia.
KFSHRC, which is one of the few global centers offering CAR-T cell therapy, has transformed the treatment of blood cancers through the reprogramming of patients’ immune cells. Since 2021, more than 100 patients have been treated, including the first case of a 13-year-old patient with leukemia. In 2023, 59 CAR-T cell therapies were administered, an increase of 62%, with a five-year survival rate of 97% for pediatric kidney tumors. KFSHRC was the first facility to locally produce CAR-T cells to expand access to this therapy and reduce costs.
KFSHRC’s pediatric oncology program, developed at the King Fahd National Center for Children’s Cancer (“KFNCCC”), also continues to inspire hope, with a five-year survival rate reaching 92% for acute lymphoblastic leukemia ( “LAL”). With more than 3,000 pediatric stem cell transplants performed, KFSHRC has been able to localize essential treatments, reducing the need for patients to seek treatment abroad.
KFSHRC also advances genomic medicine through CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing and personalized cancer treatments. To advance research into rare diseases, studies were carried out on the Kingdom’s first genetically modified mice. Gene therapy trials for hemophilia A and PNH have improved outcomes and reduced costs.
By expanding its role in immunology and genomics research, KFSHRC continues to take a patient-centered approach to providing lifesaving treatments and ensuring the renewal of healthcare worldwide.
It is worth noting that KFSHRC ranks as the leading healthcare institution in the Middle East and Africa, ranking 20th in the world in the ranking of the world’s top 250 academic medical centers for the second year in a row. It has been recognized as the most useful healthcare brand in the Kingdom and the Middle East according to Brand Finance’s 2024 rankings. In addition, in the same year it was ranked among the 250 best hospitals in the world and was included in the World’s Best Smart Hospitals for 2025 by Newsweek magazine. For more information, visit the website www.kfshrc.edu.sa or contact our media team at mediacoverage@kfshrc.edu.sa
Media contact:
Essam AlZahrani
+966 55 525 4429
mediacoverage@kfshrc.edu.sa
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