Latest news with #CrownPrinceMohammedBinSalman
Al Arabiya
09-07-2025
- Health
- Al Arabiya
Billion-dollar Saudi Hevolution Foundation brings world-first Hepatitis B cure to trials
A potential world-first cure for hepatitis B, a breakthrough treatment for a rare, life-threatening childhood disease, and a psoriasis treatment that could reshape healthy lifespan research – these are some of the real-world medical advances being driven by the Saudi Arabia-based and funded Hevolution Foundation, marking unprecedented progress in the fight against age-related diseases. In an exclusive interview with Al Arabiya English, Dr. Mehmood Khan, CEO of the Hevolution Foundation, revealed that all four companies – initially funded by the Kingdom's massive healthspan initiative – have successfully transitioned from pre-clinical animal testing to human trials. Khan describes this achievement as 'unusual' in biotech investment. 'That is unprecedented,' the CEO said, highlighting the foundation's unique approach of screening 500 companies before focusing initially on the four most promising candidates. 'It speaks to great science. It speaks to scientists and the entrepreneurs that had the idea to build a company around the technology. It speaks to our investment team that sourced these deals, and it speaks to my science team that did deep due diligence.' The breakthrough developments come five years after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman issued a royal decree establishing the Hevolution Foundation. He pledged up to one billion dollars annually for research aimed at extending healthy human lifespan and combating age-related diseases. Hepatitis B breakthrough could transform Gulf healthcare Among the most significant developments is a potential cure for hepatitis B, a disease which has emerged as a global epidemic, according to the World Health. WHO estimates that 254 million people were living with chronic hepatitis B infection in 2022, with 1.2 million new infections each year and no cure. The disease represents one of the leading causes of liver cancer when left untreated, making the potential breakthrough particularly significant for regional healthcare systems. Khan highlighted that hepatitis B remains a major health concern in the Gulf, adding that clinical trials are expected to include the region as the technology progresses. The company is taking an innovative approach by targeting the virus's epigenetic interaction with human cells, marking a fundamental shift in treating viral diseases. According to Khan, when a person is infected with a virus, it first gets into the cells and they begin to age quickly. Viruses 'hijack our own machinery and use that machinery to reproduce themselves. The cells they're hijacking get damaged,' Khan explained. This science transforms how we understand ourselves and the impact the work can have. 'It changes the way we think about these issues, because now you can actually intervene,' Khan added. Revolutionary psoriasis treatment opens healthy lifespan pathways Another company – Rubedo – funded by Hevolution has developed a topical treatment for psoriasis that targets the underlying aging processes in skin cells, potentially opening vast new markets for healthy lifespan applications. Currently, severe psoriasis cases are treated using methods that 'suppress the immune system, which has all sorts of side effects,' Khan explained. The new approach instead addresses the root cause by modifying the aging biological processes in affected cells. In psoriasis, the skin cells age rapidly and the skin becomes inflamed. 'That inflammatory process causes the symptoms and signs of psoriasis and damage,' Khan explained. 'One of our companies came at this and said, could we change the aging biological process in these cells and actually see if the psoriasis improves? So, you're not treating the consequence of it, but the underlying biological process.' The implications extend far beyond psoriasis treatment. 'Now imagine the aging process in the skin, and if you could mitigate that using a topical approach, I don't need to tell you what the market might look like,' Khan said, suggesting potential applications in the broader healthy lifespan field. He pointed out that a potential treatment could have widespread positive impacts similar to Ozempic or other GLP-1 drugs –originally developed for diabetes but now used for multiple medical conditions, including obesity. The topical treatment is currently being tested in humans to reduce the aging process of skin in patients with psoriasis. 'The first thing to do is test for toxicity in humans. We know it's safe in animals. That's why it moved to humans,' Khan said. 'It's now being tested in what we call phase one.' The key questions at this stage are whether the treatment remains safe, whether there are any early signs of effectiveness, and how it should be dosed. Phase two will involve testing on patients with the disease at different dosage levels, followed by a large-scale phase three trial. Life-saving treatment for rare childhood disease The third breakthrough involves a treatment for tuberous sclerosis, a rare seizure disorder affecting children that currently has no cure. Children with this condition may 'eventually die from kidney diseases or seizure disorders,' Khan said. The current treatment options force families into an impossible choice. 'Imagine the choice: a child continues to have seizures, or you give them a drug which mitigates the seizures but now has lots of toxicity, and there's no alternative,' Khan said. Hevolution-funded company Aeovian Pharmaceuticals has developed an alternative approach that could provide the benefits of existing treatments without the severe side effects. 'They're actually now ready to enter human trials,' Khan confirmed, with first human results expected within 12 to 18 months. The treatment works through the mTOR pathway, building on previous research with rapamycin-like drugs. 'The problem with rapamycin is it's actually an immunosuppressant used in transplant patients to stop you rejecting your organ, which has all sorts of side effects. That's why most people are not wanting to even try rapamycin,' Khan explained. 'If you could take the benefits of rapamycin and eliminate its baggage, then you'd have something transformative.' Foundation's growing global impact In recent years, Hevolution launched more than $400 million in research grants, supporting more than 200 global grants and more than 250 scientists worldwide, including scientists in Saudi Arabia. As the single-largest lead funder in the field, the foundation was also instrumental in the creation of the $101mn XPRIZE Healthspan competition, launched at the Global Healthspan Summit in 2023. Khan outlined the foundation's comprehensive approach: 'We're funding about 250 scientists around the world. We have long-term research partnerships. We have short term research projects as short as a year, as much as up to five years.' The foundation's Global Healthspan Summit has become 'by far the largest gathering of aging biology scientists, investors, leaders, etc., in the world for an organization that didn't exist five years ago,' Khan said. The summit attracted over 3,500 participants from 80 countries, representing what Khan called 'unprecedented' growth in the field. 'By any international criteria, it's a huge success,' Khan said. 'We saw unprecedented growth in registrations, attendees, and global representations – up big on all measures from our first summit.' The foundation operates on three core principles that Khan believes are essential for transforming the healthy lifespan research landscape. 'One is we want to convene the field. The second is we want to catalyze the progress of the science, so create the pipeline for science to move eventually to the marketplace, in the hands of clinicians. The third is to make this field attractive for investors, so that the private sector accelerates its move into the market. You need all three,' Khan explained. This strategy has already begun attracting additional investors to the companies Hevolution initially funded. 'What we did by design was to invest in companies that were in pre-clinical stage,' Khan explained. 'What that means is that we're testing their theories, their ideas, their science, their interventions or treatments in animals.' One of the significant challenges the foundation addresses is the lack of regulatory pathways for aging-related treatments. 'There's no regulatory path today that allows a drug to be developed for aging. No regulatory agency has yet created that path,' Khan said. However, he drew parallels to historical precedents where science advanced ahead of regulatory frameworks. Using statins as an example, he noted that these cholesterol-lowering drugs were initially only approved for patients who had already suffered heart attacks, before eventually becoming standard preventive treatments. 'When statins came to the market back in the 1980s…they were only approved to lower your cholesterol if you'd had a heart attack, so you'd actually have to have a heart attack first, and then you get treated with statins,' Khan said. Today, if someone has high cholesterol and is considered high-risk, doctors prescribe statins to prevent the first heart attack. Khan credits this shift to widespread usage and proven benefits after initial market approval. 'We started to see the benefit,' he said. Khan indicated that within 36 to 60 months, the hepatitis B treatment, currently – in phase one – could enter phase three trials, representing the final stage before potential market approval. For the psoriasis treatment, the company 'should start three different clinical programs in different conditions' next year, with the skin treatment serving as the initial proof of concept before expansion into other applications. Central to Hevolution's mission is ensuring that breakthrough treatments benefit all of humanity, not just wealthy individuals seeking life extension. The foundation's approach differs from typical celebrity-driven longevity trends. 'We haven't come at this to create a lot of sensationalism. That's not what Hevolution is about,' Khan stated. 'This is not about a lot of celebrities getting on social media telling you what they do for themselves to have impact. We're here to democratize the science and impact humanity. And in our mind, the best way to do that is not only fund the science, but identify the best startup technologies that are ready to now be invested in.' Global investment in healthspan science needed Rather than seeking to monopolize the healthy lifespan research space, Hevolution actively encourages other investors and organizations to enter the field. 'We don't compete with any fund in the world. We want the more the merrier,' Khan said. 'If five years from now, we're the smallest player in the space, we'll have been successful. The idea is not to keep the pie the same size and have Hevolution have a significant large voice. No, the idea is that we become like the 10th player in a much larger field.' This collaborative approach reflects the foundation's ultimate goal of creating a sustainable ecosystem for aging research that extends far beyond any single organization's capabilities. As the global population ages – with more than one billion people over age 60 today expected to double to two billion by 2050 – the importance of Hevolution's work continues to grow. The breakthrough treatments now entering human trials represent more than just medical advances; they demonstrate proof of concept for entirely new approaches to age-related diseases.
Arab News
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Saudi FM arrives in Brazil to participate in BRICS summit
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan arrived in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil on Monday to lead the Kingdom's delegation at the 17th BRICS summit. The Kingdom, not a full member of the bloc, is participating as a country that has been invited to join the group. Prince Faisal is attending on behalf of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Prince Faisal will participate in the second day of the summit, which will be attended by partner and guest countries invited by the presidency and international organizations, SPA added. Discussions will focus on global development efforts, including climate issues and the fight against pandemics and diseases. The original BRICS group gathered leaders from Brazil, Russia, India and China at its first summit in 2009. The bloc later added South Africa and last year included Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the UAE as members.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Executions in Saudi Arabia reach a record high mostly over drug cases, Amnesty says
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Executions in Saudi Arabia surged last year to a record high, Amnesty International said Monday, as activists increasingly warn about the kingdom's use of the death penalty in nonviolent drug cases. Saudi Arabia executed 345 people last year, the highest number ever recorded by Amnesty in over three decades of reporting. In the first six months of this year alone, 180 people have been put to death, the group said, signaling that record likely will again be broken. This year, about two-thirds of those executed were convicted on non-lethal drug charges, the activist group Reprieve said separately. Amnesty also has raised similar concerns about executions in drug cases. Saudi Arabia has not offered any comment on why it increasingly employs the death penalty in the kingdom. Saudi officials did not respond to detailed questions from The Associated Press about the executions and why it is using the death penalty for nonviolent drug cases. However, it conflicts with comments from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia's day-to-day ruler, who in 2022 highlighted he limited its use to just homicide cases. 'Well about the death penalty, we got rid of all of it, except for one category, and this one is written in the Quran, and we cannot do anything about it, even if we wished to do something, because it is clear teaching in the Quran,' the prince told The Atlantic. Drug cases become a prime driver in Saudi executions Saudi Arabia is one of several countries in the Middle East, including Iran, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates, that can levy the death penalty on drug-related charges. But the kingdom remains one of the world's top executioners behind only China and Iran — and its use of executions in drug cases appears to be fueling that. Amnesty documented the cases of 25 foreign nationals who are currently on death row, or were recently executed, for drug-related offenses. In those cases, Amnesty said the inmates on death row were not familiar with the legal system nor their rights, and had limited to no legal representation. Foreign nationals faced additional challenges when trying to secure a fair trial, Amnesty said. More than half of those executed this year in the kingdom were foreign nationals, according to Reprieve. One such national, Egyptian Essam Ahmed, disappeared in 2021 while working on a fishing boat in Sinai. A month later, his family received word he had been detained in Saudi Arabia and sentenced to death for drug trafficking. Ahmed claims he was forced by the boat's owner to carry a package for him at gunpoint. 'We're living in terror, we're scared every morning,' said a family member of Ahmed's, who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity fearing his comments could impact the case. 'Every morning until 9 a.m., we're afraid that they took one of them for execution without us knowing.' The family member added: 'We don't have feelings. We're dead. Death would be easier. … They didn't even give me a chance to defend him and I don't know what to do.' Executions come amid 'Vision 2030' plan Human rights groups for years have been critical of Saudi Arabia's human rights record. There also have been rapid societal changes in Saudi Arabia under King Salman and the crown prince. While pushing for women to drive, the kingdom has overseen the arrest of women's rights activists. While calling for foreign investment, Saudi Arabia also has imprisoned businessmen, royals and others in a crackdown on corruption that soon resembled a shakedown of the kingdom's most powerful people. In 2021, as part of the crown prince's criminal justice overhaul, Saudi Arabia's Human Rights Commission announced a moratorium on drug-related executions. The moratorium, however, remained in place for just under three years, before it was scrapped without an explanation. The executions also come as the kingdom continues to undertake bold reforms to diversify its economy as part of its 'Vision 2030' initiative. Jeed Basyouni, who directs Britain-based legal nonprofit Reprieve's Middle East and North Africa program, insisted Prince Mohammed could change Saudi Arabia's execution policy rapidly if he wanted. 'He could do mass pardons. He could insist on rewriting laws so that they are in line with international law," Basyouni said. 'The billions spent on so-called reforms, designed to promote a more tolerant and inclusive kingdom under the crown prince's rule, mask an authoritarian state where daily executions for drug crimes are now the norm."
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Aramco considers power asset sale to raise $4bn
Saudi Arabian oil company Aramco is considering the sale of up to five gas-fired power plants in a move that could potentially generate $4bn in revenue. The initiative forms part of a broader strategy aimed at freeing up capital and enhancing profitability for the state-owned enterprise, as reported by Reuters. These efforts are aligned with Saudi Arabia's push for Aramco to maximise its profits and increase contributions to government assets. Aramco has been exploring avenues including asset sales, efficiency improvements and cost reductions. The company's anticipated reduction in dividend payments by almost one-third in 2025 comes as lower oil prices impact earnings. Given that 81.5% of Aramco is directly owned by the state, these dividends, which encompass royalties and taxes, are crucial for government income. The scope of potential sales extends beyond just power plants; housing compounds and pipelines are also being considered for divestment according to two sources. Aramco currently owns full or partial stakes in 18 power facilities dedicated towards energising its gas operations and refineries, as stated in its 2024 financial report. Additional projects such as the Tanajib gas plant are expected, with operational commencement in 2025. These proposed asset disposals coincide with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's ambitious domestic initiatives to diversify economic reliance away from petroleum amidst fluctuating crude prices' pressures. Despite accruing a substantial a $199bn windfall from Aramco in 2024, oil revenues constituting 62% of state receipts led to a budget deficit above $30bn in 2024 projections. "Aramco considers power asset sale to raise $4bn" was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
CTV News
07-07-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Executions in Saudi Arabia reach a record high mostly over drug cases, Amnesty says
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Executions in Saudi Arabia surged last year to a record high, Amnesty International said Monday, as activists increasingly warn about the kingdom's use of the death penalty in nonviolent drug cases. Saudi Arabia executed 345 people last year, the highest number ever recorded by Amnesty in over three decades of reporting. In the first six months of this year alone, 180 people have been put to death, the group said, signaling that record likely will again be broken. This year, about two-thirds of those executed were convicted on non-lethal drug charges, the activist group Reprieve said separately. Amnesty also has raised similar concerns about executions in drug cases. Saudi Arabia has not offered any comment on why it increasingly employs the death penalty in the kingdom. Saudi officials did not respond to detailed questions from The Associated Press about the executions and why it is using the death penalty for nonviolent drug cases. However, it conflicts with comments from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia's day-to-day ruler, who in 2022 highlighted he limited its use to just homicide cases. 'Well about the death penalty, we got rid of all of it, except for one category, and this one is written in the Quran, and we cannot do anything about it, even if we wished to do something, because it is clear teaching in the Quran,' the prince told The Atlantic. Drug cases become a prime driver in Saudi executions Saudi Arabia is one of several countries in the Middle East, including Iran, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates, that can levy the death penalty on drug-related charges. But the kingdom remains one of the world's top executioners behind only China and Iran — and its use of executions in drug cases appears to be fueling that. Amnesty documented the cases of 25 foreign nationals who are currently on death row, or were recently executed, for drug-related offenses. In those cases, Amnesty said the inmates on death row were not familiar with the legal system nor their rights, and had limited to no legal representation. Foreign nationals faced additional challenges when trying to secure a fair trial, Amnesty said. More than half of those executed this year in the kingdom were foreign nationals, according to Reprieve. One such national, Egyptian Essam Ahmed, disappeared in 2021 while working on a fishing boat in Sinai. A month later, his family received word he had been detained in Saudi Arabia and sentenced to death for drug trafficking. Ahmed claims he was forced by the boat's owner to carry a package for him at gunpoint. 'We're living in terror, we're scared every morning,' said a family member of Ahmed's, who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity fearing his comments could impact the case. 'Every morning until 9 a.m., we're afraid that they took one of them for execution without us knowing.' The family member added: 'We don't have feelings. We're dead. Death would be easier. … They didn't even give me a chance to defend him and I don't know what to do.' Executions come amid 'Vision 2030' plan Human rights groups for years have been critical of Saudi Arabia's human rights record. There also have been rapid societal changes in Saudi Arabia under King Salman and the crown prince. While pushing for women to drive, the kingdom has overseen the arrest of women's rights activists. While calling for foreign investment, Saudi Arabia also has imprisoned businessmen, royals and others in a crackdown on corruption that soon resembled a shakedown of the kingdom's most powerful people. In 2021, as part of the crown prince's criminal justice overhaul, Saudi Arabia's Human Rights Commission announced a moratorium on drug-related executions. The moratorium, however, remained in place for just under three years, before it was scrapped without an explanation. The executions also come as the kingdom continues to undertake bold reforms to diversify its economy as part of its 'Vision 2030' initiative. Jeed Basyouni, who directs Britain-based legal nonprofit Reprieve's Middle East and North Africa program, insisted Prince Mohammed could change Saudi Arabia's execution policy rapidly if he wanted. 'He could do mass pardons. He could insist on rewriting laws so that they are in line with international law,' Basyouni said. 'The billions spent on so-called reforms, designed to promote a more tolerant and inclusive kingdom under the crown prince's rule, mask an authoritarian state where daily executions for drug crimes are now the norm.' Malak Harb And Gabe Levin, The Associated Press
