An Emirati doctor reveals an innovative technique that reduces the cost of cancer treatment 90%

The Emirati doctor, Ajlan Waheed Ibrahim Al-Zaki, the first Emirati physician specializing in immunotherapy with “T-cells”, and the director of the blood diseases, tumors and cell therapy at Burjil Abu Dhabi Hospital, revealed the development of innovative technology to treat blood cancer using “Car T-CELL”, which achieves a shift in treating cancer diseases inside the country, especially in cases of blood tumors, A qualitative step towards resettlement of biomedical industries, and to enhance the health and economic security system.

Al -Zaki – in a special interview with «Emirates Today» on the sidelines of the “Maken in the Emirates” forum – stressed the start of the manufacture of this advanced type of treatment locally, which contributes to reducing the cost of treatment by up to 90%, while reducing dependence on external manufacturing, within the framework of efforts to establish the state’s leadership in advanced vital industries and life sciences, and establishing the foundations of knowledge based on knowledge, by focusing on technology and artificial intelligence in the industry. Car T-Cell.

He said: «With the acceleration of progress in personal medicine and immune treatments, treatments with (TT cells) appeared as one of the promising solutions to counter cancer, especially in cases that resist traditional treatments.

He explained that this treatment is one of the immune remedies in which TV cells are extracted from the patient’s blood, and then genetically modified them in the laboratory, so that you can identify cancer cells, and attack them accurately, before returning them to the patient’s body.

He continued: «What distinguishes this treatment is that it is dedicated to each patient separately, and it is designed according to the genes of each patient, and the type of tumor that he suffers, as it targets the tumor with high accuracy without the wide effect in healthy cells, as it happens in chemotherapy or radiation. Inside the country, it enhances the status of Abu Dhabi and the UAE as a regional center for clinical research and innovation in the field of cancer treatment.

Al -Zaki stressed that this treatment reduces the need for frequent treatments, which reduces the psychological and physical burden on patients, and studies have shown that 91% of patients who received treatment did not need additional treatment after that, compared to 76% of patients who received traditional treatments.

Al -Zaki said: «The manufacture of domestic therapy changes the rules of the game significantly, as it is in addition to reducing the cost by reducing the costs associated with external charging and storage, the local manufacturing reduced dependence on import, and thus reduced the risks associated with global supply chains, and also shortened weeks of waiting, which allowed the start of treatment in a decisive timing.

He continued: «The psychological treatment also led to more relief and confidence in patients and their families when they know that the treatment is prepared near them, and under the supervision of qualified local medical teams, as well as contributing to the development of research and medical infrastructure in the UAE, which enhances its position as a regional center for treatment and research.

Al -Zaki revealed that the manufacture of this type of treatment requires accurate techniques and strict regulatory frameworks. He said: “We succeeded in moving from the laboratory to local production, thanks to cooperation between research institutions and medical centers, and with direct support from government initiatives.”

He pointed out that the platform “Made in the Emirates” provided the supportive environment in terms of legislation, infrastructure and industrial motivation, and facilitated partnerships with leading companies in biotechnology, which enabled the settlement of this vital industry in record time.

Al -Zaki stressed that the UAE has several ingredients that help it in manufacturing and developing T -cell therapy techniques, in the forefront of which is the advanced infrastructure, and the presence of specialized centers such as the Abu Dhabi Stem Cell Center that succeeded in manufacturing the first TV cells in the country, in cooperation with prestigious international institutions, in addition to government support through government investment in the health care and scientific research sector, which enhances the state’s ability to adopt and develop technologies Advanced therapeutic.

He stressed that the Emirati national competencies play a vital role in this field, through participation in research, development and contributing to the development and application of treatment techniques with “TT cells”, where specialized training programs are provided to qualify national cadres in the fields of biomedical medicine and genetic engineering.

He pointed out that the national competencies assume leadership positions in research and medical institutions that enhance the directive of national policies and strategies in this field, which enhances the UAE’s position as a regional and global center in the field of medical treatment and research.

He emphasized that what the UAE is witnessing in the field of TB treatment is not just a medical development, but rather an embodiment of a strategic vision that believes in local innovation and specialized medicine, while continuing investment in research and artificial intelligence that plays an increasing role in the health sector, indicating that artificial intelligence is today an integral part of the treatment system in the state, where it is used in analyzing patients’ data in a deeper and faster way, and identifying indicators The vitality that helps to design the treatment more precisely, as well as automating many of the stages of manufacturing and predicting the efficiency of response to the treatment for each patient, which makes the treatment more effective and safe.

Doctor Ajlan Zaki:

. Local manufacturing reduced dependence on import, and thus reduced the risks associated with global supply chains, and shorten weeks of waiting.

. Emirati national competencies play a vital role by participating in research and development, and contributing to the development and application of treatment techniques with “T -cells”.