ADCAN Pharma and MS Pharma have agreed to develop a UAE-based program for producing, packaging and testing medicines, with the stated aim of improving access to treatment for cancer and chronic diseases.
The companies announced the framework at the Abu Dhabi Future Health Summit on Tuesday, Oct. 20, in statements published by Emirates News Agency (WAM). The plans are prospective; the companies have not said local manufacturing or testing has begun, and they gave no start date.
The proposed portfolio includes injections, tablets and biosimilars, as well as medicines for cancer, immunological conditions, eye diseases, respiratory and cardiovascular care, metabolic and neurological disorders, and infections, the companies said. A biosimilar is designed to closely resemble an existing biologic medicine. Gulf News said biologic treatments are used in complex conditions, including cancer and autoimmune disease.
ADCAN Pharma CEO Dr. Fokion Sinis said ADCAN plans to establish laboratory capacity in the UAE for quality testing of monoclonal antibodies, a class of medicines used in advanced care. The partners expect to expand production and testing capabilities in phases, using cooperation and knowledge exchange to develop the work.
MS Pharma Vice President of Commercial Ghandi Yacoub said the partnership aims to bring advanced treatments to more patients across the region. The companies also list affordability and continuity of medicine supply among their goals. Gulf News separately characterized local production as a way to reduce the UAE’s reliance on medicine supply networks abroad.
The announcement coincided with a separate Oct. 20 agreement involving Eli Lilly and Mubadala Bio on packaging and logistics for GLP-1 medicines in Abu Dhabi, covered in EconoTimes’ earlier report on the Abu Dhabi GLP-1 plan.
