DUBAI (Reuters) -Saudi Arabia has signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with Pfizer and AstraZeneca including a pact with the latter to set up clinical research centres, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Wednesday.
The Ministry of Investment announced the AstraZeneca deal on Twitter.
Pfizer signed an MoU with King Abdullah International Center for Medical Research and the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, SPA said.
Pfizer said in a statement the MOU is in support of enhancing scientific research and training capabilities in Saudi Arabia.
It is not related the COVID-19 vaccine, Pfizer said.
Pfizer and AztraZeneca both manufacture COVID-19 vaccines.
A new factory in neighbouring United Arab Emirates is expected to start manufacturing a COVID-19 vaccine from Chinese firm Sinopharm this year.
(Reporting by Shakeel Ahmad and Saeed Azhar, writing by Maher Chmaytelli; editing by Jason Neely and David Evans)
