Porton Advanced Signs MOU with EVA Pharma to Expand CAR-T Manufacturing in MEA

• Porton Advanced and EVA Pharma have signed an MOU to establish CAR-T development and manufacturing capabilities in the Middle East and Africa.

• The collaboration focuses on lentiviral vector production and aims to localise access to innovative cancer therapies.

Porton Advanced Solutions and EVA Pharma have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on cell and gene therapy development, focusing on the manufacturing of CAR T-cell therapies in the Middle East and Africa (MEA). The agreement will prioritise lentiviral vector production, a key component in CAR-T treatments for blood cancers.

Under the agreement, Porton Advanced will provide CDMO expertise in viral vector and cell therapy process development, supporting EVA Pharma’s biopharmaceutical infrastructure in Egypt and Saudi Arabia. The partnership is intended to enable localised production of advanced cancer therapies, reducing costs and accelerating delivery timelines.

“This partnership marks a sustainable model for advanced therapy manufacturing in emerging markets,” said Andrew Chen, CFO of Porton Advanced. “This collaboration aligns with our vision of supporting cutting-edge treatments globally accessible.”

Riad Armanious, CEO of EVA Pharma, added, “Patients battling cancer deserve more than hope; they deserve access to innovations once thought out of reach.”

The agreement supports the establishment of regional manufacturing hubs and forms part of wider global efforts to improve access to cell and gene therapies in regions with limited infrastructure. EVA Pharma’s existing market presence in the MEA region, combined with Porton Advanced’s contract manufacturing capabilities, is expected to advance oncology care standards locally.