Abu Dhabi will start clinical trials to test a new drug that could transform the way thalassaemia is being treated.
Burjeel Medical City will test the effectiveness and safety of new drug Mitapivat, which has shown promise as a treatment for the condition.
Thalassaemia is an inherited blood disorder and one of the most common genetic illnesses in the UAE.
It occurs when the body doesn't make enough of a protein called haemoglobin. Severe cases require frequent blood transfusions.
Stem cell or bone marrow transplants are the only current cures for thalassaemia.
If these studies meet their endpoints, this could be a game changer to how the disease is being treated today
Dr Khaled Musallam,
Burjeel Holdings
Mitapivat is a US and EU-approved drug to manage pyruvate kinase deficiency.
It has recently demonstrated potential in earlier trials for transforming the treatment of thalassaemia.
Abu Dhabi will take part in the phase 3 trials — Energise and Energise-T — which will test Mitapivat's effectiveness on adults with thalassaemia.
The trials will evaluate the drug in two types of thalassaemia with relatively different clinical needs.
The Energise study aims to evaluate whether Mitapivat can effectively and safely improve haemoglobin levels in patients who do not require regular transfusions.
The Energise-T study aims to evaluate whether the same drug can decrease transfusion requirements in patients who regularly receive transfusions.
Dr Asma Al Mannaei, executive director of the Research Centre and Innovation at Abu Dhabi Department of Health, said the emirate's regulator is “working on cementing Abu Dhabi’s position as a pioneering healthcare destination globally and the region’s hub for research and innovation in life science”.
“Abu Dhabi was able to play a pivotal role in developing medicines and conducting clinical trials with several international partners,” she said.
“Today, we are witnessing the launch of new clinical trials so that we continue our efforts as we aim to further improve healthcare services in Abu Dhabi, and helping all members of our community, and across the globe.”
The UAE was one of the first countries to participate in clinical trials of Covid-19 vaccines with more than 32,000 volunteers for the Chinese Sinopharm inoculation.
Dr Khaled Musallam, group chief research officer or Burjeel Holdings, said Abu Dhabi was “now at the forefront of leading-edge innovations”.
“If these studies meet their endpoints, this could be a game changer to how the disease is being treated today,” he said.
“A disease-modifying therapy can address persisting unmet needs of patients in the UAE and around the world.”
The Energise trials will start with a typical screening period and run for 24 weeks, while Energise-T will run for 48 weeks, with core treatment periods for primary results, followed by five-year extensions.
The trials, which will be conducted at Burjeel Medical City in collaboration with the US as well as several centres in the EU and Asia, will include clinical, radiological and laboratory assessments.
SHAITTAN
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Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse Of Madness'
Director: Sam Raimi
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez, Michael Stuhlbarg and Rachel McAdams
Rating: 3/5
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
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The biog
DOB: March 13, 1987
Place of birth: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia but lived in Virginia in the US and raised in Lebanon
School: ACS in Lebanon
University: BSA in Graphic Design at the American University of Beirut
MSA in Design Entrepreneurship at the School of Visual Arts in New York City
Nationality: Lebanese
Status: Single
Favourite thing to do: I really enjoy cycling, I was a participant in Cycling for Gaza for the second time this year
ICC T20 Rankings
1. India - 270 ranking points
2. England - 265 points
3. Pakistan - 261 points
4. South Africa - 253 points
5. Australia - 251 points
6. New Zealand - 250 points
7. West Indies - 240 points
8. Bangladesh - 233 points
9. Sri Lanka - 230 points
10. Afghanistan - 226 points
Fresh faces in UAE side
Khalifa Mubarak (24) An accomplished centre-back, the Al Nasr defender’s progress has been hampered in the past by injury. With not many options in central defence, he would bolster what can be a problem area.
Ali Salmeen (22) Has been superb at the heart of Al Wasl’s midfield these past two seasons, with the Dubai club flourishing under manager Rodolfo Arrubarrena. Would add workrate and composure to the centre of the park.
Mohammed Jamal (23) Enjoyed a stellar 2016/17 Arabian Gulf League campaign, proving integral to Al Jazira as the capital club sealed the championship for only a second time. A tenacious and disciplined central midfielder.
Khalfan Mubarak (22) One of the most exciting players in the UAE, the Al Jazira playmaker has been likened in style to Omar Abdulrahman. Has minimal international experience already, but there should be much more to come.
Jassim Yaqoub (20) Another incredibly exciting prospect, the Al Nasr winger is becoming a regular contributor at club level. Pacey, direct and with an eye for goal, he would provide the team’s attack an extra dimension.
COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The results of the first round are as follows:
Qais Saied (Independent): 18.4 per cent
Nabil Karoui (Qalb Tounes): 15.58 per cent
Abdelfattah Mourou (Ennahdha party): 12.88 per cent
Abdelkarim Zbidi (two-time defence minister backed by Nidaa Tounes party): 10.7 per cent
Youssef Chahed (former prime minister, leader of Long Live Tunisia): 7.3 per cent
Company%20profile
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Gender equality in the workplace still 200 years away
It will take centuries to achieve gender parity in workplaces around the globe, according to a December report from the World Economic Forum.
The WEF study said there had been some improvements in wage equality in 2018 compared to 2017, when the global gender gap widened for the first time in a decade.
But it warned that these were offset by declining representation of women in politics, coupled with greater inequality in their access to health and education.
At current rates, the global gender gap across a range of areas will not close for another 108 years, while it is expected to take 202 years to close the workplace gap, WEF found.
The Geneva-based organisation's annual report tracked disparities between the sexes in 149 countries across four areas: education, health, economic opportunity and political empowerment.
After years of advances in education, health and political representation, women registered setbacks in all three areas this year, WEF said.
Only in the area of economic opportunity did the gender gap narrow somewhat, although there is not much to celebrate, with the global wage gap narrowing to nearly 51 per cent.
And the number of women in leadership roles has risen to 34 per cent globally, WEF said.
At the same time, the report showed there are now proportionately fewer women than men participating in the workforce, suggesting that automation is having a disproportionate impact on jobs traditionally performed by women.
And women are significantly under-represented in growing areas of employment that require science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills, WEF said.
* Agence France Presse
