Abu Dhabi [UAE], May 22 (HBTV): Burjeel Medical City in Abu Dhabi has announced a significant medical breakthrough with the development of an innovative CAR T-cell therapy for blood cancers, which could reduce treatment costs by up to 90 per cent.

This advancement is a major step towards localising biopharmaceutical industries, reinforcing the UAE's position as a regional hub for cellular therapies and medical innovation, while also contributing to healthcare and economic security.

Speaking to Emirates News Agency (WAM) on the sidelines of the Make it in the Emirates forum at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Dr Ajlan Al Zaki, Director of the Centre for Haematology, Oncology and Cellular Therapy at Burjeel Hospital, described the event as an ideal platform to introduce this advanced treatment. The therapy involves collecting T-cells from the patient, genetically modifying them in a laboratory to recognise and destroy cancer cells, and then reinfusing them into the patient’s body.

Al Zaki said the forum offered a strategic opportunity to showcase the UAE’s capabilities in locally manufacturing CAR T-cells, as well as its potential to export the technology to regional and international markets. He noted that this approach demonstrates the integration of science and biotechnology, supporting the knowledge economy and building a sustainable healthcare ecosystem.

He highlighted that reducing treatment costs by up to 90 per cent is unprecedented in the region and strengthens the UAE’s status as a centre for advanced therapies. The achievement also paves the way for broader scientific collaboration and reflects the country’s growing leadership in medical innovation.

Al Zaki, who has previously held clinical and research roles at Stanford University and the MD Anderson Cancer Center, affirmed his commitment to using his expertise to ensure access to affordable cancer treatments across the UAE and the wider region. He also underscored the need to raise awareness of CAR T-cell therapy, particularly for difficult-to-treat blood cancers.

Describing CAR T-cell therapy as a form of personalised, precision medicine often administered in a single session with promising recovery rates, he said it marks a paradigm shift in the future of cancer care in the UAE and positions Abu Dhabi as a leader in clinical research and treatment innovation.

The CAR T-cell initiative, Al Zaki added, illustrates the UAE’s ability to localise advanced biotechnologies, empower national talent, and bridge scientific research with precision and personalised medicine.

Originally developed for blood cancers such as leukaemia and lymphoma, CAR T-cell therapy is now being studied for its potential to treat solid tumours including breast, pancreatic, and lung cancers, as well as complex brain tumours like glioblastoma and metastatic cancers resistant to conventional therapies.

Al Zaki also highlighted the growing role of artificial intelligence in genomic analysis and molecular target identification, as well as the use of gene editing tools such as CRISPR to enhance cell engineering.

He pointed to ongoing collaborative efforts with scientific partners and non-profit organisations such as Caring Cross to manufacture these therapies locally, ensuring broader access across regional medical centres, rather than limiting availability to select global institutions.

(ANI/WAM)