US pharmaceutical company Pfizer will train and support 150 Abu Dhabi scientists to conduct clinical research at the level required by multinational companies to produce effective medicines.
Patrick van der Loo, regional president of Pfizer Africa and the Middle East, said at an online conference on Tuesday that the programme will allow more access to clinical trials, and will be similar to what the company has done in Saudi Arabia.
“This ambition of health care as a key pillar of diversification of the economy is something we are seeing across the Gulf and elsewhere,” he said.
“Rather than just do one-off programmes or trials, we are better off providing structural collaborative support for the government of Abu Dhabi and its networks to provide more trials.
“We are in the process of rolling out many more early-stage trials here.”
In one year we have gained an experience usually gained in 10 years
Yasser El Dershaby,
Pfizer
From March 2022, experts will conduct remote training courses from Pfizer Clinical research units in Belgium, the US and Singapore.
Further training will take place at the company's research academy, academic institutions and with other specialised partners.
Participants will receive training in technologies and artificial intelligence tools that accelerate the drug discovery process, with trainees allocated a specific cohort with training based on their research role and expertise.
The pharma giant also pledged better mRNA flu vaccines and a new migraine drug at the conference.
Regional officers of the drug manufacturer behind the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine and antiviral treatment Paxlovid said new technology in vaccine production had created a new era for global pharmaceuticals.
They said new messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) technology that helped create Covid vaccines will be helpful in inoculating the masses from flu.
mRNA flu vaccine may be the next big thing
Pfizer’s collaboration with German biotechnology company BioNTech aims to create a better flu shot by speeding up manufacturing and removing the guesswork from annual vaccine programmes.
A key development resulting from the rapid research and real-world trials generated during the pandemic has been a broader acceptance of mRNA vaccines, leading pharmaceutical experts say.
Once viewed with scepticism at the onset of Covid-19, the mRNA vaccines that teach cells how to trigger an immune response to fight infection are now considered vital to future vaccine development.
That is most apparent in future flu vaccines, usually developed each year to fight emerging new variants that mutate over the summer months.
Under previous methods, scientists would try to predict which flu virus would become dominant each winter, dependent on viral surveillance data.
A production time of around six months would often lead to vaccine selections being a poor match for a mutated flu virus, offering just 60 per cent protection in a good year.
That could change using mRNA technology.
Scientists would no longer require live cells to develop new vaccines, instead they would study genes of current viral strains to then synthetically produce the corresponding RNA.
That can then be injected to stimulate an immune response.
“At the start of Covid, many people had concerns over the safety and efficacy of mRNA technology in vaccines, but now we know it can hugely support other diseases,” said Pfizer’s medical lead in Africa and the Middle East, Yasser El Dershaby.
“We have partnered with others including BioNTech to develop new vaccines and have started clinical trials on the first influenza vaccine that will be a single dose using mRNA.
“We are also working on an Omicron-specific vaccine and another that is bivalent so it can work against two or more variants of Covid.”
The officials did not give a time frame as to when these vaccines will be available in the market.
New migraine treatment
Pfizer’s first gene-related peptide receptor antagonist to treat and prevent migraine is due to be launched in May, Mr Dershaby said.
Rimegepant will soon be available for adults experiencing at least four migraine attacks a month after the drug was backed by the European Medicines Agency in February.
A new range of cancer treatments is also likely in the near future, thanks to developments in clinical research.
Pfizer has 11 medications used in the Mena region to treat different types of cancers, but 15-20 more are under development for breast, lung and colorectal cancer, among others.
Gene therapy to treat haemophilia and certain types of neural muscular disorders are also under development by the company.
“In one year we have gained an experience usually gained in 10 years,” said Mr Dershaby.
“We want to develop more real-world evidence so we know what works on our population here with more studies and building infrastructure to enhance research capabilities.
“That means training more junior researchers to conduct good clinical trials with good practice guidelines who are certified and well-trained.”
Quick%20facts
%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EStorstockholms%20Lokaltrafik%20(SL)%20offers%20free%20guided%20tours%20of%20art%20in%20the%20metro%20and%20at%20the%20stations%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EThe%20tours%20are%20free%20of%20charge%3B%20all%20you%20need%20is%20a%20valid%20SL%20ticket%2C%20for%20which%20a%20single%20journey%20(valid%20for%2075%20minutes)%20costs%2039%20Swedish%20krone%20(%243.75)%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ETravel%20cards%20for%20unlimited%20journeys%20are%20priced%20at%20165%20Swedish%20krone%20for%2024%20hours%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EAvoid%20rush%20hour%20%E2%80%93%20between%209.30%20am%20and%204.30%20pm%20%E2%80%93%20to%20explore%20the%20artwork%20at%20leisure%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Sustainable Development Goals
1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects
14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development
RESULTS
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Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPowertrain%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle%20electric%20motor%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E201hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E310Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E53kWh%20lithium-ion%20battery%20pack%20(GS%20base%20model)%3B%2070kWh%20battery%20pack%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETouring%20range%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E350km%20(GS)%3B%20480km%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C900%20(GS)%3B%20Dh149%2C000%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
How tumultuous protests grew
- A fuel tax protest by French drivers appealed to wider anti-government sentiment
- Unlike previous French demonstrations there was no trade union or organised movement involved
- Demonstrators responded to online petitions and flooded squares to block traffic
- At its height there were almost 300,000 on the streets in support
- Named after the high visibility jackets that drivers must keep in cars
- Clashes soon turned violent as thousands fought with police at cordons
- An estimated two dozen people lost eyes and many others were admitted to hospital
Read more about the coronavirus
Company%20profile
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Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
The%C2%A0specs%20
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FROM%20THE%20ASHES
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
