UAE Partnership to Slash CAR-T Cancer Therapy Costs by 90% Through Local Manufacturing

Key Insights

• Burjeel Holdings and US-based Caring Cross have formed a partnership to locally manufacture CAR-T cell therapies in the UAE, reducing costs by up to 90% compared to international prices.
• The collaboration aims to establish the UAE as a regional hub for advanced cell and gene therapies, initially focusing on treatments for leukemia and lymphoma with future plans to explore therapies for other diseases including HIV.
• By enabling point-of-care production of patient-specific therapies, the initiative will dramatically improve access to cutting-edge cancer treatments across the MENA region, where current global CAR-T therapy costs range from $350,000 to over $1 million.

Burjeel Holdings has partnered with US-based non-profit Caring Cross to locally manufacture CAR-T cell therapies in the UAE, aiming to reduce treatment costs by up to 90% compared to current international prices. The landmark collaboration, announced during the Abu Dhabi Global Health Week, seeks to revolutionize cancer care across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region by making these cutting-edge treatments more accessible and affordable.

CAR-T (Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell) therapy represents a significant advancement in cancer treatment, particularly for aggressive blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma. The therapy works by genetically modifying a patient's own T-cells to express special receptors that target and destroy cancer cells.

Currently, CAR-T therapies globally cost between $350,000 and over $1 million, severely limiting access for many patients. Through local manufacturing capabilities, Burjeel Holdings and Caring Cross aim to dramatically reduce these costs while maintaining treatment efficacy.

Establishing a Regional Hub for Advanced Cell Therapies

The partnership will position the UAE as a regional center for advanced cell and gene therapies. Caring Cross will provide the technology, raw materials, and expert training needed to support the local infrastructure for CAR-T production.

"We are honored to partner with Caring Cross, whose expertise in CAR-T cell therapy production technology will enable us to provide affordable, life-saving treatments to our communities and beyond," said Dr. Ajlan Al Zaki, Director of the Hematology Oncology & Cellular Therapy Center at Burjeel Hospital Abu Dhabi. "This partnership is a pivotal step in our commitment to advancing medical innovation and expanding access to critical healthcare services."

The first phase of the program will focus on CAR-T therapies for leukemia and lymphoma, with plans to explore treatments for other diseases, including HIV, in the future.

How CAR-T Cell Therapy Works

The CAR-T treatment process involves several key steps:

1. T-cells are collected from the patient's blood
2. In a laboratory, these T-cells are genetically modified to express special receptors (CAR) that target cancer cells
3. The modified CAR-T cells are multiplied in the lab
4. They are then infused back into the patient, where they seek out and destroy cancer cells

This point-of-care production model will allow for patient-specific therapies to be manufactured locally, significantly reducing costs and improving accessibility.

Expanding Access to Underserved Populations

Boro Dropulić, Executive Director of Caring Cross, emphasized the importance of this collaboration: "We are excited to partner with Burjeel Holdings to improve access to CAR-T cell and other ATMPs for patients across their hospital networks in the MENA region. This collaboration advances our mission to make these groundbreaking treatments accessible and affordable around the world."

John Sunil, Group CEO of Burjeel Holdings, added that the partnership represents "a pivotal step in our commitment to advancing medical innovation and expanding access to critical healthcare services."

Building Local Capabilities for Sustainable Impact

Beyond immediate treatment benefits, the initiative will focus on training and developing local healthcare providers to ensure sustainable and scalable delivery of CAR-T therapies. This capacity-building approach aims to create lasting infrastructure for advanced cancer care in the region.

"Our collaboration is operating at the cutting edge of medical innovation, opening doors to biological therapies not just in MENA, but also in emerging markets like India and other parts of Asia," noted Dr. Al Zaki. "This is a monumental stride in enhancing access to cancer treatments and addressing the escalating need for advanced healthcare globally."

The partnership between Burjeel Holdings and Caring Cross represents a significant advancement in democratizing access to cutting-edge cancer treatments, potentially benefiting thousands of patients who previously had limited options for these life-saving therapies.