CEL-SCI and Saudi Amarox Formalize Partnership at BIO 2026 to Advance Oncology Innovation in Saudi Arabia
CEL-SCI Corporation announced that it has officially completed a formal signing ceremony with Saudi Amarox during the BIO International Convention 2026 in San Diego, a development that signals a new phase of cooperation between the United States and Saudi Arabia in healthcare innovation, cancer treatment, and broader life sciences collaboration. The ceremony, held on June 22, brought together leadership from both companies as well as representatives from Saudi organizations involved in healthcare, trade, and investment, underscoring the strategic importance of the agreement and the growing ties between the two countries in medical innovation.
The signing represents more than a corporate milestone. It reflects a broader trend of cross-border partnerships aimed at expanding access to innovative therapies in regions that are making major investments in healthcare modernization. In this case, the agreement centers on plans to support the future introduction and commercialization of Multikine, CEL-SCI’s investigational immunotherapy, in Saudi Arabia and potentially in additional markets across the surrounding region, subject to required regulatory approvals.
For CEL-SCI, the ceremony marks an important step in extending its international reach at a time when the company is emphasizing the global potential of its oncology platform. For Amarox, the agreement aligns with Saudi Arabia’s long-term healthcare transformation strategy, which prioritizes bringing advanced therapies and innovative technologies to patients in the Kingdom while also building stronger partnerships with international biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.
According to CEL-SCI, the event at BIO 2026 highlighted not only the relationship between the two companies but also the larger role Saudi Arabia intends to play in shaping the future of healthcare and life sciences in the Middle East. Representatives from Saudi healthcare, investment, and trade sectors attended the ceremony, reinforcing the Kingdom’s commitment to expanding its healthcare ecosystem and deepening ties with U.S.-based innovators.
Geert Kersten, Chief Executive Officer of CEL-SCI, said the collaboration with Amarox fits squarely within the company’s long-standing strategy of pursuing international partnerships to advance cancer care and broaden patient access to novel treatments. He noted that Saudi Arabia’s increasing investment in healthcare innovation and advanced medical technologies creates an environment where collaboration with global biotechnology companies can support meaningful progress in oncology.
Kersten emphasized that CEL-SCI has built its development strategy around international cooperation for many years, and that the company sees opportunities to contribute its scientific and operational experience to the region. He said the partnership with Amarox and Saudi stakeholders reflects a shared interest in improving cancer care through innovation, scientific exchange, and the introduction of new therapeutic options.
The agreement itself is focused on activities related to Multikine, CEL-SCI’s lead investigational therapy, which has been studied for the treatment of newly diagnosed locally advanced primary head and neck cancer. Amarox is expected to support efforts associated with the planned launch and commercialization of the therapy in Saudi Arabia once regulatory pathways allow, and the scope of the collaboration may extend to other countries in the region as opportunities emerge.
That focus on head and neck cancer is significant, as CEL-SCI has spent years developing Multikine through one of the largest global clinical programs ever conducted in that disease setting. The company has pointed to the scale of its Phase 3 study as evidence of both the seriousness of its development effort and its ability to manage complex international clinical programs. CEL-SCI’s pivotal Phase 3 trial enrolled 928 patients with newly diagnosed advanced head and neck cancer across 23 countries, spanning three continents and involving roughly 100 clinical sites.
The breadth of that trial is a notable part of CEL-SCI’s identity as an oncology company. By conducting a study of that size across such a diverse set of countries and treatment centers, the company has positioned itself as a globally oriented developer rather than one focused on a single market. The geographic diversity of the study also reflects the increasingly international nature of oncology research, where collaborations across borders can help accelerate enrollment, gather broader clinical experience, and build the relationships needed for eventual commercialization in multiple regions.
For Saudi Arabia, the agreement fits into a much larger national agenda. The Kingdom’s Vision 2030 program has made healthcare modernization one of its major priorities, with a strong emphasis on innovation, digital transformation, private-sector participation, and the development of local capabilities in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and medical research. As part of that agenda, Saudi Arabia has been investing heavily in healthcare infrastructure and in efforts designed to attract global companies and technologies to the Kingdom.
Abdullah Alzomaie, CEO and Founder of Amarox, said the collaboration with CEL-SCI supports Saudi Arabia’s broader healthcare ambitions by creating pathways for innovative therapies to reach patients while also strengthening international relationships. He noted that the Kingdom is making substantial investments in healthcare transformation and access to new medicines, and that partnerships such as this one can contribute to those objectives by linking Saudi organizations with companies that are developing promising new treatments.
His comments reflect a wider shift taking place in the Saudi healthcare market. Rather than serving solely as an importer of finished healthcare products, the Kingdom is increasingly positioning itself as a regional center for advanced healthcare, biotechnology, pharmaceutical development, and research. Partnerships with international biotech firms can help accelerate that transition by bringing in new scientific expertise, product candidates, and commercial know-how, while also opening the door to future collaborations in research, manufacturing, and clinical development.
The BIO International Convention provided a fitting stage for the signing ceremony. As one of the largest gatherings for the biotechnology industry, BIO brings together executives, investors, researchers, and policymakers from around the world to explore partnerships, licensing opportunities, investment strategies, and scientific advances. Holding the ceremony during BIO 2026 allowed CEL-SCI and Amarox to present their agreement within a global life sciences setting, while also drawing attention to Saudi Arabia’s growing role as a destination for healthcare investment and innovation partnerships.
The collaboration also reflects the increasing strategic importance of oncology in global healthcare partnerships. Cancer remains one of the world’s most pressing health challenges, and many countries are seeking ways to improve access to new therapies, strengthen cancer care infrastructure, and participate more actively in oncology research. For CEL-SCI, aligning with a partner in Saudi Arabia could help create a pathway into a market that is investing heavily in healthcare capacity and looking to expand access to advanced treatments. For Amarox and Saudi stakeholders, working with an established oncology developer offers an opportunity to connect local healthcare priorities with international innovation.
While the agreement remains subject to regulatory milestones and the future path of Multikine in the region, the signing ceremony itself is a meaningful statement of intent. It indicates that both companies see long-term value in combining CEL-SCI’s oncology development experience with Amarox’s regional knowledge and Saudi Arabia’s healthcare ambitions. If the collaboration progresses as planned, it could support the introduction of a new immunotherapy option in the Kingdom and potentially contribute to broader oncology access across neighboring markets.
Ultimately, the CEL-SCI–Amarox agreement is part of a larger story about how healthcare innovation is becoming increasingly global, and how countries such as Saudi Arabia are seeking not only to expand access to medicines but also to become active participants in the future of biotechnology and cancer care. By formalizing their relationship at BIO 2026, CEL-SCI and Amarox have signaled their intention to contribute to that transformation through a partnership focused on oncology, innovation, and international cooperation.
About Multikine
Multikine is a cancer immunotherapy administered before surgery as a treatment for newly diagnosed previously untreated head and neck cancer. Its goal is to activate a person’s immune system to fight cancer before the ravages of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy have weakened the immune system. In the world’s largest head and neck cancer Phase 3 study, Multikine increased the 5-year survival rate of the target patient population to 73% vs 45% in patients treated with standard of care alone and halved the risk of death from 55% to 27%.
About Head and Neck Cancer
Head and neck cancer is the 6th most common cancer, with approximately 900,000 newly diagnosed cases per year globally. The newly diagnosed stage 3 and 4 patients with this cancer represent a severe unmet need.
About CEL-SCI Corporation
CEL-SCI believes that boosting a patient’s immune system before surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy have damaged it, should provide the greatest possible impact on survival. Multikine is designed to help the immune system “target” the tumor at a time when the immune system is still relatively intact and thereby thought to be better able to mount an attack on the tumor.
Multikine (Leukocyte Interleukin, Injection), given right after diagnosis and before surgery, has been dosed in over 740 patients and received Orphan Drug designation from the FDA for neoadjuvant therapy in patients with squamous cell carcinoma (cancer) of the head and neck.
