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Manzari: WHO Didn’t Approve Any Drugs for Treating COVID-19

WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Ahmed Al-Manzari
WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Ahmed Al-Manzari
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Manzari: WHO Didn’t Approve Any Drugs for Treating COVID-19

WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Ahmed Al-Manzari
WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Ahmed Al-Manzari

In June 2018, Ahmed Al-Manzari was appointed the WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean. Despite not occupying the post for long, Manzari faced a multitude of crises due to the region’s poor health systems that have been wracked by conflict.

Manzari, who achieved “great success” in developing the health system in his home country, the Sultanate of Oman, before assuming his regional position, now faces a radical challenge posed by the new Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Manzari, alongside the WHO, has also been fighting back a lot of rumors spread on social media around the virus.

When asked about the truth behind antimalarial drugs, such as hydroxychloroquine, being used as a cure for the new coronavirus, Manzari expressed growing concerns towards the misuse of drugs with COVID-19 patients.

“This is a worrying situation for us, as there are currently no WHO approved drugs available for treating COVID-19. Another concern is the harmful effect of the use of such (anti-malaria) drugs in terms of drug interactions between different types of drugs and side effects,” Manzari told Asharq Al-Awsat.

As for rumors about a vaccine being developed rapidly, before the end of 2020, Manzari said that developing a vaccine takes years, but that successive health emergencies faced by the world have pushed international efforts closer and strengthened research cooperation.

This, according to the WHO regional director, can speed up the time needed to develop a vaccine and a treatment for the virus.

“Indeed, we were able to develop the Ebola vaccine in much less time, and we are currently working with partners to do the same about COVID-19,” Manzari said.

“To date, the World Health Organization has received requests to review and approve 40 diagnostic tests and 20 vaccines under development, and we confirm that many clinical trials for treatments are already underway, and that all steps and measures that ensure the safety, security, and effectiveness of vaccines and treatments are followed,” he added.

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Hevolution CEO Discusses Career in Innovation, Medicine, and Business

Dr. Mehmood Khan, CEO of the Hevolution Foundation
Dr. Mehmood Khan, CEO of the Hevolution Foundation
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Hevolution CEO Discusses Career in Innovation, Medicine, and Business

Dr. Mehmood Khan, CEO of the Hevolution Foundation
Dr. Mehmood Khan, CEO of the Hevolution Foundation

Dr. Mehmood Khan, CEO of the Hevolution Foundation, the largest philanthropy organization funding aging medicine in the world, expressed that receiving Saudi citizenship will boost his scientific and practical capabilities.
He said this new status will help him advance his research, especially in addressing aging.
This comes as part of a recent royal decree granting Saudi citizenship to several notable scholars, doctors, researchers, and innovators.
“Our Chairman, his Royal Highness (Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman), has very high expectations of our work and the impact we need to do; We were created in part because of his vision,” Khan told Asharq Al-Awsat.
“Living up to the expectations and challenges we get faced with is itself exciting, but it is challenging,” revealed Khan, affirming that Hevolution’s team is “up to that task.”
Khan, who has experience in both corporate and medical fields, told Asharq Al-Awsat that his work across academic, public, and private sectors has been a continuous learning process, with each area enhancing the others.
According to the CEO, these industries are interconnected, and combining their strengths often leads to the best solutions.
This insight inspired the Hevolution initiative, which brings together the scientific community, NGOs, pharmaceutical companies, policymakers, academia, biotech firms, CEOs, and others to promote healthy aging.
Khan highlighted the value of integrating insights from different sectors.
Academia provides detailed research, the public sector offers insights on population health and regulations, and the corporate world brings innovation and efficiency, explained Khan, adding that by merging these perspectives, the world can tackle complex health challenges more effectively.
“We’ve been working through, and are now investing, funding and partnering with over 200 scientists around the world, and over 150 different university labs,” said Khan.
Hevolution uses this integrated approach to advance healthy aging.
This initiative embodies my passion for addressing major challenges and offers a significant opportunity to make a global impact.
Khan talked about the first $400 million commitment Hevolution made in the last 23 months, calling it “unprecedented.”
“There has never been a non-profit organization in the world that has gone from not existing to now becoming the largest philanthropy funding aging biology and medicine in the world,” affirmed Khan.
Khan stressed that work at Hevolution not only pushes scientific boundaries but also promotes cross-sector collaboration to improve global health outcomes.
Since Khan’s early days in medical school, he’s been deeply interested in nutrition and population health, which was an unconventional focus back then. This journey set the foundation for his later work in community health.
Khan’s time as an endocrinology faculty member at the Mayo Clinic was crucial. He led programs on diabetes, endocrine diseases, metabolism, and nutrition, which strengthened his expertise in designing disease prevention systems.
In the private sector, Khan took on a key role at Takeda Pharmaceutical as the global head of R&D, which shaped his approach to innovative healthcare solutions.
At PepsiCo, as Chief Scientific Officer, he learned crucial principles of scale, impact, transformation, and tackling global challenges.
As CEO of Hevolution, Khan uses all his professional experience to advance the foundation’s mission of developing health sciences to address age-related diseases.
Khan serves on the boards of Reckitt Benckiser and the Saudi Research, Development, and Innovation Authority (RDIA).
He is the CEO of Life Biosciences, a member of Saudi Arabia’s biotechnology strategy committee, and the chair of the advanced technology visiting committee at the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
Khan told Asharq Al-Awsat that he feels honored to have recently become a Saudi citizen by royal decree, while also holding dual US and UK citizenship. This helps him lead Hevolution effectively and work closely with international partners.
Khan commented on his recent Saudi citizenship, saying that in addition to feeling honored to receive Saudi citizenship by royal decree, alongside other distinguished individuals, this recognition is a great privilege.
Being a Saudi citizen, as per Khan, is a significant milestone and acknowledges the progress in his work in aging science and global health. It also strengthens Khan’s commitment to the work at Hevolution.
Khan noted that this new status enhances his ability to build relationships and collaborate within the Kingdom and internationally. It offers a deeper connection with the local community and better opportunities to engage with policymakers and leaders.
He also said that this recognition boosts Hevolution’s global presence and credibility, making the foundation’s collaborations with international scientists and business leaders stronger. It positions Hevolution as a key player in addressing age-related diseases.
Khan emphasized that this honor reflects the hard work and innovation of Hevolution’s entire team.
The CEO said that it was collective efforts that have made this achievement possible.
Khan also said he is excited to engage more deeply with the scientific and medical community in the Kingdom, adding that his new citizenship helps him contribute to Vision 2030 and the national biotechnology strategy, promoting innovation and attracting top global talent.