Abu Dhabi: New partnership advances personalized medicine and genomics – News

The strategic collaboration aims to maximize the emirate’s unique genomics program and translate scientific advances into tangible patient benefits

Abu Dhabi’s Department of Health (DoH) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with US-based AbbVie Biopharmaceutical and M42 to strengthen collaboration in customized personalized medicine and genomics in the UAE capital.

The agreement was signed by the Ministry of Health during its participation in the 2023 BIO International Congress in Boston. The three parties aim to advance precision medicine in the diagnosis and treatment of multiple myeloma, a type of plasma cell carcinoma, and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), under a new partnership formalized at the AbbVie Bioresearch Center in Boston.

The strategic collaboration aims to maximize the UAE’s unique genomics program and translate scientific advancements into tangible patient benefits, with a focus on precision medicine tailored to individual needs. The agreement will reinforce the UAE’s position as a leading destination for life sciences and innovation, leveraging real-world evidence (RWE) to advance care delivery and assess the effectiveness of patient support programs and therapeutic innovations. The partnership aims to assess the impact of these interventions on patient outcomes and make data-driven decisions to continuously improve the quality of care provided to patients.

Dr. Asma Al Mannaei, executive director of the Ministry of Health’s Center for Research and Innovation, noted that personalized medicine and genomics have the transformative potential to reshape care delivery and improve outcomes.

“Abu Dhabi continues to harness the power of these fields to usher in a new era of healthcare where each patient’s journey is guided by their own genetic blueprint, improving quality of life and creating a brighter future for generations to come.”

Dr Al Mannaei noted that public-private dialogue is important to address global challenges and advance universal healthcare.

“Global collaboration is critical to unlocking the vast potential of personalized medicine and genomics, enabling us to revolutionize world-class customized healthcare for communities around the world. Through our agreement with AbbVie Biopharmaceuticals and M42, we seek to Unifying efforts, integrating expertise and resources, and diversifying perspectives to accelerate breakthroughs and improve accessibility for all patients.”

Hassan Sabbah, General Manager, Gulf and Levant, AbbVie, said: “This collaboration aims to advance precision medicine in diagnostics and therapeutics, and to help a wider range of patients in the UAE gain access to innovative treatments. We are working hard to roll out Multiple initiatives to support research and clinical trials and develop innovative solutions to effectively address local and regional health needs, challenges and burdens.”

As part of its preventive healthcare efforts, Abu Dhabi last year launched the region’s first personalized precision medicine program in oncology. The program integrates predictive, personalized and precision medicine using genomics to transform diagnosis, drug treatment and prevention, tailored to an individual’s specific needs.

Francesco Redivo, senior director of G42 Healthcare, an M42 company, pointed out that pharmaceutical companies like AbbVie are known for discovering and delivering innovative medicines and solutions that improve people’s lives.

“Our collaboration will build on a joint effort to advance precision medicine by leveraging real-world evidence and real-world data capabilities, develop innovative solutions around access to care, and maximize the potential of the UAE Genome Initiative, Translating scientific advances into tangible patient benefits”.

In line with the emirate’s efforts to lead in personalized and preventive healthcare, Abu Dhabi is home to the largest genomics project. The UAE Genome Project aims to explore the genetic makeup of the Emiratis, using cutting-edge DNA sequencing and artificial intelligence technologies to generate high-quality and comprehensive genomic data on the Emiratis. To date, the project has collected and sequenced more than 430,000 genomic samples, placing the capital at the forefront of genomics research. The number of clinical trials processed and conducted in the emirate of Abu Dhabi will increase by 484% in 2022, reflecting its commitment to safeguarding the health and well-being of community members through breakthrough research and innovation.