Abu Dhabi: The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), the healthcare regulator in the Emirate, has signed an agreement with Takeda Pharmaceuticals at the BIO International Convention 2024 in San Diego, USA. This partnership aims to boost research efforts in rare diseases and cancer.
Dr. Asma Ibrahim Al Mannaei, Executive Director of the Research and Innovation Center at DoH, and Dr. Ahmed Fayed, General Manager East Gulf and Levant Cluster, signed the Memorandum of Understanding in the presence of Mansoor Ibrahim Al Mansoori, Chairman of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH).
Through the relationship, clinical research and innovation will be enhanced, and regional advisory boards featuring expert panels will be made possible. This will promote information exchange, challenge existing practices, and offer workable solutions to close healthcare gaps. hence highlighting Abu Dhabi’s efforts to offer patients in Abu Dhabi and the surrounding area cutting-edge therapies and solutions.
Rare diseases affect over 300 million people globally, and cancer remains a leading cause of death globally, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020 alone. As part of the Department’s commitment to address global health challenges, we are proud to collaborate with Takeda Pharmaceuticals to unite efforts and leverage diverse expertise and resources to collectively lead groundbreaking discoveries and improve treatment options for patients.
Dr. Asma Ibrahim Al Mannaei, Executive Director of the Research and Innovation Centre at the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), said that,
“Reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading destination for life science on the global stage, we will leverage the Emirate’s advanced healthcare infrastructure and Takeda’s vast expertise in developing cutting-edge therapies to propel clinical research in rare diseases and oncology, drive innovation in healthcare technologies, and enhance health technology assessment capabilities,” Al Mannaei added.
To enhance patient outcomes, DoH and Takeda will create consensus statements and regional treatment recommendations that support evidence-based practices. Alongside, collecting comprehensive evidence on epidemiology, and tackling unmet medical needs connected to rare diseases and oncology, addressing focused proactive interventions, and improving healthcare results in the region.
Both parties will work together to seamlessly incorporate cutting-edge Patient Support Programs (PSPs) into the healthcare ecosystem of the Emirate, in keeping with Abu Dhabi’s healthcare goals.
These programs will make use of Takeda’s best practices and global experience, specifically designed to meet the requirements of patients with rare diseases. The two organizations will enhance quality of life, adherence to treatment, and patient outcomes by evaluating the influence and efficacy of these PSPs.