The three-day event welcomed over 50 experts in biohacking, integrative medicine, and performance wellness, offering insights into cutting-edge approaches for longevity and peak human performance.

The summit aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Health Sector Transformation Program and the Quality of Life Program, reflecting the nation’s commitment to holistic wellbeing.

Participants explored how medtech and biotech innovations are creating new opportunities for individuals and businesses alike, enhancing both local and international health initiatives.

Keynote speakers, including Gary Brecka, founder of “The Ultimate Human” podcast, praised the Kingdom’s dedication to health optimization.

He highlighted Saudi Arabia’s commitment to enabling people not just to heal, but to thrive, emphasizing longevity and bio-optimization as central themes of the summit.

Zenos Health, founded in 2024 by brothers Mazen and Marwan Karnaby, shared their mission to challenge conventional approaches to aging and empower individuals to take control of their health.

Their personal journey, sparked by Mazen’s melanoma diagnosis, inspired a vision of science-backed wellness solutions that prioritize balance, vitality, and mindful living.

The summit featured booths from local and international vendors, offering insights, products, and wellness solutions.

Saudi entrepreneurs, including Marriam Mossalli, co-founder of Powder Beauty, highlighted the value of combining traditional knowledge with modern wellness practices, creating opportunities to share Saudi heritage globally.

Prominent experts such as Dr. Mark Hyman of the Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Walid Fitaihi, Dr. Vonda Wright, Dr. Amy Shah, and Ben Azadi contributed to panels on integrative medicine, nutrition, and metabolic health.

Their presentations emphasized preventive and personalized approaches to wellness, reflecting a global movement toward holistic health.

Nutrition and women’s wellness specialists Cynthia Thurlow and Courtney Swan highlighted the role of food, lifestyle, and daily habits in sustaining long-term vitality.

Their sessions showcased how small, science-backed changes can dramatically improve health outcomes and quality of life.

The Zenos Health Summit successfully positioned Saudi Arabia as a hub for health innovation, fostering international collaboration and knowledge exchange.

By combining local traditions with global expertise, the event demonstrated the Kingdom’s leadership in wellness, longevity, and integrative medicine.

Participants left the summit inspired by the opportunities to advance personal and public health, underscoring Saudi Arabia’s growing influence in shaping the future of global wellness.

This approval highlights the Kingdom’s commitment to advancing healthcare innovation and improving patient access to cutting-edge therapies.

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has approved Qalsody (Tofersen), marking a major step forward in treating adults with ALS linked to SOD1 gene mutations and expanding access to life-changing therapies in the Kingdom.

ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that targets nerve cells responsible for voluntary movement, gradually causing muscle weakness, loss of mobility, and significant impacts on daily life.

While the condition is rare, patients and families affected by SOD1-linked ALS face unique challenges due to the genetic mutation producing a defective SOD1 protein, which disrupts normal cellular processes by failing to eliminate toxic byproducts.

Qalsody represents a breakthrough in treating this rare condition through antisense therapy, a novel therapeutic approach that uses small nucleotide molecules designed to bind precisely to the mutated gene’s mRNA.

By targeting the defective SOD1 protein at its source, Qalsody helps reduce its production and accumulation in nerve cells, potentially slowing disease progression and providing new hope for patients.

The SFDA emphasized that the drug’s approval followed a thorough evaluation of its efficacy, safety, and quality. Clinical trials demonstrated that patients receiving Qalsody experienced reductions in critical indicators of nerve damage, including neurofilament light levels, compared with placebo-treated patients.

Additionally, the concentration of defective SOD1 protein in cerebrospinal fluid decreased, confirming that the drug effectively targets the disease’s molecular root. While long-term benefits are still being assessed, early findings indicate promising outcomes for adults living with SOD1-linked ALS.

In terms of safety, the most common side effects observed during clinical studies included muscle and joint pain, fatigue, injection site discomfort, fever, and elevated protein levels in cerebrospinal fluid, which were generally manageable.

The SFDA noted that ongoing monitoring will continue to ensure patient safety while maximizing therapeutic benefits.

The approval of Qalsody is part of the SFDA’s Orphan Drugs Program, a strategic initiative aimed at accelerating access to innovative therapies for rare and hard-to-treat diseases.

By facilitating the availability of these critical medications, the program addresses unmet medical needs and reinforces Saudi Arabia’s dedication to improving patient care for conditions affecting fewer than five in 10,000 people in the Kingdom.

Health experts hailed the move as a significant milestone in the Kingdom’s healthcare transformation. The approval aligns with the Health Sector Transformation Program, one of the key pillars of Vision 2030, which seeks to enhance the quality and accessibility of healthcare services nationwide.

By integrating advanced therapies such as Qalsody into clinical practice, Saudi Arabia continues to position itself as a regional leader in medical innovation and rare disease treatment.

“This is a major advancement for patients living with ALS in the Kingdom,” said an SFDA spokesperson. “The approval of Qalsody reflects our ongoing commitment to facilitating access to safe and effective treatments, particularly for rare diseases where options have been limited.”

Patient advocacy groups also welcomed the approval, noting that it brings renewed hope to families grappling with the challenges of ALS.

The introduction of targeted therapies such as Qalsody underscores the importance of investing in cutting-edge science and fostering collaboration between regulators, healthcare providers, and pharmaceutical innovators.

With Qalsody now registered in Saudi Arabia, patients with SOD1-linked ALS have access to a therapy that not only addresses the underlying genetic cause of their disease but also represents the Kingdom’s broader ambition to enhance healthcare quality, innovation, and accessibility in line with Vision 2030 goals.

The SFDA’s approval marks a historic step forward, emphasizing both scientific progress and the Kingdom’s patient-centered approach to healthcare.

Qalsody’s entry into the Saudi market highlights a new era of hope for adults living with ALS and reinforces the nation’s position at the forefront of rare disease treatment in the Middle East.