Cancer drugs costing more than $1 million could be drastically reduced in price by changes to the way immunotherapies are produced, opening up new opportunities for life-saving care.
Novel CAR T-cell therapies offering bespoke treatments are some of the most expensive to produce and deliver, making them out of reach the majority of patients.
The basic cost to deliver the therapy is at least $350,000, with additional licensing fees and other hospital expenses often pushing prices beyond the $1m mark.
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is used to treat some blood cancers, and is created by scientists to suit a patient’s genetics.
We believe every individual, regardless of their financial situation, deserves equal access to quality cancer care and support
Aisha Al Mulla,
Director of Friends of Cancer Patients
T-cells are collected from a patient, then re-engineered in the lab and delivered to the patient to hunt down and destroy cancerous cells.
But thanks to changes in manufacturing processes, hospitals around the world are beginning to produce their own CAR T-cell therapies locally, drastically cutting costs.
Caring Cross, a US-based non-profit organisation, aims to make gene therapy accessible and affordable worldwide, by decentralising manufacturing and opening up a new avenue of cancer care for all patients.
Cancer care boost
Dr Boro Dropulic, executive director of Caring Cross, said a global strategy could reshape healthcare and provide life-saving treatments for those who need them most.
“There are a number of ways the cost can be reduced, mainly by reducing the cost of materials used in the process,” Dr Dropulic told The National.
“The single largest cost is the vector used to deliver the therapeutic genes into cells. We are addressing this issue by establishing a public benefit corporation called Vector BioMed, which manufactures GMP Lentiviral vectors at about half the price of other manufacturers.”
The shipping of cells from hospitals to a large single central manufacturing facility and back is expensive to establish and maintain, he added.
“It is very costly when the number of products produced from such a facility does not reach capacity, which is generally the case. By bringing manufacturing of cells to the place where patients come for care, we can reduce the cost to a tenth of the current cost when coupled with simple and efficient manufacturing processes and materials,” Dr Dropulic added.
Local manufacturing
Caring Cross aims to bring manufacturing sites for personalised therapies to local hospitals around the world, improving access to the ground-breaking science. By developing low-cost CAR T-cell manufacturing processes, low and middle income countries such as Brazil can independently manufacture CAR T-cells and reduce dependency on expensive commercial products.
The approach bridges the healthcare gap, making advanced treatments more accessible to families facing financial barriers and promoting healthcare equity. Benefits of decentralised manufacturing are already being seen in Spain, where costs have plummeted to below $100,000, and in India where therapy costs have fallen to as low as $35,000.
Dr Dropulic said prefabricated modular ‘clean rooms’ are manufactured and deployed fully equipped for CAR T-cell manufacture anywhere in the world.
“The model is particularly suited for cellular gene therapies, which is our focus,” he said. “If this model works in low to middle income nations, it can definitely work in the UAE and similar countries.”
An estimated 20 million new cancer cases were reported worldwide in 2022, resulting in nearly 10 million deaths. For the millions affected, life-saving treatments like CAR T-cell therapy are far out of reach.
Doctors turn to the therapy when other treatments have failed, or a patient’s blood cancer has returned.
That comes at a cost with patients in the UAE often referred overseas for treatments.
“CAR T-cell has transformed the way we think about and see cancers, and there are multiple indications now approved,” said Dr Humaid Al Shamsi, director of medical oncology services at Burjeel Medical City.
“There is a huge interest to bring CAR T-cell from haematology, into other forms of cancers as it has transformed the way we treat blood cancers. For the solid tumours like GI cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, it's still not quite there yet.
“There are many studies and trials happening right now, but currently it's only approved for blood cancer.”
Therapies are expensive due to the huge investment required for research and development.
Overseas care
Dr Al Shamsi said about 15 Burjeel Medical City patients had been referred for expensive CAR T-Cell therapies, with the US and Singapore the most common destinations.
High costs remained a prohibitive factor in bringing therapies to the UAE, but that could change.
“To bring these drugs from preclinical studies to advanced stages can cost billions,” said Dr Al Shamsi.
“Licensing fees are also significant, exceeding Dh50 million. To get a return, they [pharmaceutical companies] have to charge more than average to recover these costs.
“It’s important to understand this is a personalised treatment, as we have to perform processes in a special way to develop CAR T-cells for each patient, which takes a lot of effort.
“The infrastructure itself is also very costly to build. We can cut this down by making drugs more accessible, with more factories and more manpower to handle this, as the time to collect the CAR T-Cell can take around 35 days.”
In April, the UAE’s Friends of Cancer Patients charity covered some of the costs of CAR T-Cell therapy for a 46-year-old Omani man who lived in Ras Al Khaimah.
The immunotherapy cost more than Dh1 million, with some of those costs paid by the charity.
The man was successfully treated for lymphoma at the Yas Clinic in Khalifa City.
In the first half of 2024, FoCP supported 96 patients, including six children, with Dh4.3m in care fees.
Cancer is an expensive disease to treat, with some of the most effective immunotherapies out of financial reach for many.
Charity support
In 2023 the charity supported the care of 323 cancer patients with Dh7.2 million of funding to treat 55 different cancers.
“We believe every individual, regardless of their financial situation, deserves equal access to quality cancer care and support,” said Aisha Al Mulla, director of Friends of Cancer Patients.
“The financial burden of cancer can be overwhelming, but we are dedicated to alleviating this stress through our comprehensive support programmes.”
In the US, approximately 1.8 million new cancer cases are diagnosed annually, leading to an estimated $5.6 billion in out-of-pocket expenses for patients and their families.
Meanwhile in the UAE, the year 2022 saw 5,526 new cancer diagnoses, and 2,283 deaths.
“Our mission is to ensure that no one faces this battle alone,” said Ms Al Mulla.
“By offering moral and financial support, we aim to alleviate the stress associated with treatment costs and empower patients to focus on their recovery, nurturing an environment where hope prevails.”
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Best Foreign Language Film nominees
Capernaum (Lebanon)
Cold War (Poland)
Never Look Away (Germany)
Roma (Mexico)
Shoplifters (Japan)
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Match statistics
Abu Dhabi Harlequins 36 Bahrain 32
Harlequins
Tries: Penalty 2, Stevenson, Teasdale, Semple
Cons: Stevenson 2
Pens: Stevenson
Bahrain
Tries: Wallace 2, Heath, Evans, Behan
Cons: Radley 2
Pen: Radley
Man of the match: Craig Nutt (Harlequins)
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Ticket prices
General admission Dh295 (under-three free)
Buy a four-person Family & Friends ticket and pay for only three tickets, so the fourth family member is free
Buy tickets at: wbworldabudhabi.com/en/tickets
The specs
Engine: 4 liquid-cooled permanent magnet synchronous electric motors placed at each wheel
Battery: Rimac 120kWh Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (LiNiMnCoO2) chemistry
Power: 1877bhp
Torque: 2300Nm
Price: Dh7,500,00
On sale: Now
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
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The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
Greatest Royal Rumble match listing
50-man Royal Rumble - names entered so far include Braun Strowman, Daniel Bryan, Kurt Angle, Big Show, Kane, Chris Jericho, The New Day and Elias
Universal Championship Brock Lesnar (champion) v Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
WWE World Heavyweight ChampionshipAJ Styles (champion) v Shinsuke Nakamura
Intercontinental Championship Seth Rollins (champion) v The Miz v Finn Balor v Samoa Joe
United States Championship Jeff Hardy (champion) v Jinder Mahal
SmackDown Tag Team Championship The Bludgeon Brothers (champions) v The Usos
Raw Tag Team Championship (currently vacant) Cesaro and Sheamus v Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt
Casket match The Undertaker v Rusev
Singles match John Cena v Triple H
Cruiserweight Championship Cedric Alexander v Kalisto
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
MATCH INFO
Juventus 1 (Dybala 45')
Lazio 3 (Alberto 16', Lulic 73', Cataldi 90 4')
Red card: Rodrigo Bentancur (Juventus)
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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ABU%20DHABI'S%20KEY%20TOURISM%20GOALS%3A%20BY%20THE%20NUMBERS
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THE%20SWIMMERS
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Brief scoreline:
Liverpool 2
Mane 51', Salah 53'
Chelsea 0
Man of the Match: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
THE SPECS
Engine: Four-cylinder 2.5-litre
Transmission: Seven-speed auto
Power: 165hp
Torque: 241Nm
Price: Dh99,900 to Dh134,000
On sale: now
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League last-16, second leg:
Real Madrid 1 (Asensio 70'), Ajax 4 (Ziyech 7', Neres 18', Tadic 62', Schone 72')
Ajax win 5-3 on aggregate
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Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAyan%20Mukerji%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERanbir%20Kapoor%2C%20Alia%20Bhatt%20and%20Amitabh%20Bachchan%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
SPECS
Toyota land Cruiser 2020 5.7L VXR
Engine: 5.7-litre V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 362hp
Torque: 530Nm
Price: Dh329,000 (base model 4.0L EXR Dh215,900)
How to turn your property into a holiday home
- Ensure decoration and styling – and portal photography – quality is high to achieve maximum rates.
- Research equivalent Airbnb homes in your location to ensure competitiveness.
- Post on all relevant platforms to reach the widest audience; whether you let personally or via an agency know your potential guest profile – aiming for the wrong demographic may leave your property empty.
- Factor in costs when working out if holiday letting is beneficial. The annual DCTM fee runs from Dh370 for a one-bedroom flat to Dh1,200. Tourism tax is Dh10-15 per bedroom, per night.
- Check your management company has a physical office, a valid DTCM licence and is licencing your property and paying tourism taxes. For transparency, regularly view your booking calendar.
How green is the expo nursery?
Some 400,000 shrubs and 13,000 trees in the on-site nursery
An additional 450,000 shrubs and 4,000 trees to be delivered in the months leading up to the expo
Ghaf, date palm, acacia arabica, acacia tortilis, vitex or sage, techoma and the salvadora are just some heat tolerant native plants in the nursery
Approximately 340 species of shrubs and trees selected for diverse landscape
The nursery team works exclusively with organic fertilisers and pesticides
All shrubs and trees supplied by Dubai Municipality
Most sourced from farms, nurseries across the country
Plants and trees are re-potted when they arrive at nursery to give them room to grow
Some mature trees are in open areas or planted within the expo site
Green waste is recycled as compost
Treated sewage effluent supplied by Dubai Municipality is used to meet the majority of the nursery’s irrigation needs
Construction workforce peaked at 40,000 workers
About 65,000 people have signed up to volunteer
Main themes of expo is ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ and three subthemes of opportunity, mobility and sustainability.
Expo 2020 Dubai to open in October 2020 and run for six months
