KELIX bio, wholly owned by Mubadala Investment Company, an Abu Dhabi sovereign investor, has completed the acquisition of DiabTec, 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.
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 CEO – UAE Investments Platform Mubadala
“The acquisition of DiabTec by KELIX bio is a significant milestone for Mubadala, further strengthening our nation’s position in the global life sciences ecosystem. This strategic investment reflects our commitment to responsible investing, addressing critical global healthcare challenges like the growing need for insulin analogues. Moreover, it strengthens Mubadala’s portfolio of biologicals, establishes our role in biomanufacturing across the MENA region, and advances the UAE’s life sciences sector through local manufacturing.”
Hocine Sidi Said, CEO of KELIX bio, commented that, “The acquisition of DiabTec highlights Mubadala’s commitment to our growth and to back our ambition to support the growth of the UAE life sciences sector. With the rising number of diabetes patients globally, access to insulin analogues remains a challenge in many regions. To address this challenge, KELIX bio aims to improve access to critical treatments, ensuring that those in need can receive the care they require.”
The move further consolidates Mubadala’s footprint in the life science ecosystem, advances the UAE’s life sciences sector, and positions the nation as a global leader in the industry whilst supporting its economic diversification.
According to the statement, it also complements Mubadala’s recent acquisition of four GlobalOne Healthcare Holding assets, further solidifying the UAE’s biopharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities and contributing to its emergence as a global leader in life sciences.
