RIYADH: The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), in cooperation with the International Council for Harmonization of Technical Requirements of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH), organized regulatory training on quality guidelines, providing assessors with in-depth knowledge and experience in the fields of chemistry, manufacturing and control.
The four-week training program, which began May 1, consists of five modules covering various disciplines, such as drug manufacturing and analyzing processes, and reviewing production stages using scientific studies.
The training is being offered by prominent international experts, including Dr. Nadine Ritter, a specialist in the field of biopharmaceuticals from the US; Dr. Mark Powell, a specialist in the field of biochemistry from the UK; and Dr. Margit Holzer, a specialist from Austria.
A group of experts from the SFDA joined them.
About 90 residents and experts from the authority, along with more than 30 residents representing a number of Arab and international regulatory authorities, also joined the program.
By organizing programs, the SFDA aims to build bridges of communication and benefit from international experts, transferring expertise internationally to improve regulatory decisions and help raise the efficiency, quality and safety of medicine worldwide.
SFDA trains quality assessors on ICH quality guidelines
https://arab.news/cunym
SFDA trains quality assessors on ICH quality guidelines
- Saudi drug experts join global training program
- The four-week training program, which began May 1, consists of five modules
US firm plans world’s first commercial space station
- Project developed by VAST Space company for 2027
- Plan for short missions and research in microgravity
RIYADH: A US firm plans to launch the world’s first commercial space station for astronauts in 2027, the company’s CEO said at a Riyadh conference.
VAST Space’s CEO Max Haot outlined the company’s plans for the Haven-1 station at the Space Debris Conference 2026, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
Haot explained that Haven-1 represents the first phase of a long-term vision to develop commercial space stations, which will support a sustainable human presence in low Earth orbit.
This is in line with the global transition toward commercial operating models as the International Space Station approaches the end of its operational life, expected at the end of 2030.
The ISS, a partnership between NASA and the Russian, European, Japanese and Canadian space agencies, was first launched into orbit in 1998.
Haven-1 is designed to host a crew of four astronauts on short-duration missions, while supporting scientific research, technology demonstrations and commercial applications in a microgravity environment.
Haot added that the station’s design places strong emphasis on safety and sustainability, including the integration of debris protection systems, as well as dedicated processes for safe deorbiting.
The company aims to achieve operational revenues through four crewed missions, supported by scientific and commercial payloads and strategic partnerships, from 2027 to 2030.
Haot expressed confidence in his company’s progress and testing during 2025.
