RIYADH: King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center introduced a groundbreaking preventive treatment aimed at slowing the progression of type 1 diabetes, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
The new therapy is designed for adults and children aged eight years and older who are diagnosed at stage two of the disease. It marks the first time such a treatment has been implemented in the Kingdom.
The initial application involved two patients who met all the criteria outlined in the approved protocol. The step represents a major advance in early preventive care for one of the most common autoimmune conditions affecting children and adolescents.
Both cases were treated at the hospital’s Department of Pediatrics. For families already managing type 1 diabetes, the innovation brings new hope.
Siblings of affected children often face increased risk due to shared genetic and immune factors. Preventive options like this could significantly lower those risks in the future.
The treatment targets the early, pre-type 1 diabetes stage when insulin-producing pancreatic cells begin to deteriorate. Through early intervention, doctors can slow this damage, delay the onset of symptoms and help extend the time before full disease progression.
Implementing the therapy required careful preparation. The drug was compounded in the hospital pharmacy under a precise protocol, while nursing teams received training on administration, monitoring and managing possible reactions.
Medical staff were also briefed on patient selection and follow-up criteria based on the latest clinical guidelines.
According to the SPA, experts expect the program to inspire national research focused on the early stages of the disease and on developing preventive approaches that enhance quality of life for at-risk groups.
KFSH&RC continues to gain recognition on the global stage. It was ranked first in the Middle East and Africa, and 15th worldwide among the top 250 academic medical centers for 2025.
The hospital was also named the most valuable healthcare brand in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East by Brand Finance 2025.
Additionally, Newsweek included KFSH&RC on its lists of the World’s Best Hospitals (2025), the World’s Smartest Hospitals (2026) and the World’s Best Specialized Hospitals (2026).
Saudi hospital pioneers preventive type 1 diabetes treatment
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Saudi hospital pioneers preventive type 1 diabetes treatment
- The new therapy is designed for adults and children aged eight years and older who are diagnosed at stage two of the disease
Saudi Arabia positions space sector as pillar of knowledge economy
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is stepping up efforts to develop its space sector as part of wider plans to build a diversified, knowledge-based economy under Vision 2030, officials and industry figures say.
Space is increasingly seen in the Kingdom as a driver of technology development, job creation, and international cooperation, Saudi Press Agency reported.
Policymakers say it now underpins a range of services, from telecommunications and navigation to climate monitoring and disaster management.
CEO of the Saudi Space Agency Mohammed Al-Tamimi said space technologies are closely linked to daily life and national development priorities.
“Space has become a vital tool for human development,” he said, noting that innovations in communications, Earth observation and navigation support sectors such as agriculture, logistics and urban planning.
Al-Tamimi added that growing private-sector involvement is creating new opportunities for startups and international partnerships, as Saudi Arabia seeks to build local capabilities rather than rely solely on imported technology.
Recent years have seen a series of institutional reforms. The establishment of the Saudi Space Agency in 2018, the transfer of regulatory responsibilities to the Communications, Space and Technology Commission, and the creation of the Supreme Space Council, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, have helped set clearer governance and strategy for the sector.
Saudi Arabia has also expanded its participation in global programs. Agreements with NASA include cooperation on climate and space-weather missions, while partnerships with research centers and space companies support training, joint experiments, and technology transfer.
Domestically, investment is being directed toward satellite manufacturing, Earth-observation platforms, and data services linked to smart-city and environmental projects. Neo Space Group, owned by the Public Investment Fund, is expected to play a key role in developing sovereign capabilities and attracting international partners.
Youth programs and education initiatives feature prominently in the strategy. Competitions, academic research projects, and astronaut training opportunities are designed to encourage students to pursue careers in science and engineering.
In 2023, Saudi astronauts Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali Al-Qarni participated in the Axiom-2 mission to the International Space Station, conducting scientific and outreach activities.
According to national indicators, the Saudi space economy was valued at around $8.7 billion in 2024 and is forecast to grow steadily through 2035, with expansion expected across both manufacturing and downstream services such as data analytics and navigation.
Officials also highlight sustainability as a priority. New regulations aim to ensure safe and responsible space activity, while the Kingdom plans to host the Space Debris Conference in 2026 to discuss global challenges linked to congestion in orbit.
As Saudi Arabia deepens partnerships and builds local expertise, analysts say the sector could support economic diversification, strengthen research capacity and provide high-skilled opportunities for young Saudis.
For policymakers, the space sector is less about prestige and more about practical outcomes: better services, stronger national capabilities and a foothold in an industry expected to grow rapidly in the coming decade.
