Advanced Cancer Therapy to Be Produced in UAE at 90% Lower Cost

In a major healthcare breakthrough, the UAE is set to manufacture CAR-T cell therapies locally, cutting treatment costs by up to 90% compared to international prices. The initiative, announced during Abu Dhabi Global Health Week, results from a partnership between Burjeel Holdings and US-based non-profit Caring Cross.

CAR-T therapy is a next-generation immunotherapy that reprograms a patient’s immune cells to target and destroy cancer cells, primarily used to treat aggressive blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma. With current global treatment prices ranging from USD 350,000 to over USD 1 million, access has remained limited across the MENA region.

This new initiative will establish a local manufacturing ecosystem, with Caring Cross supplying the technology, raw materials, and training needed to support point-of-care production. The first phase focuses on leukemia and lymphoma, with plans to expand into treatments for other diseases, including HIV.

The partnership aims to position the UAE as a regional hub for advanced cell and gene therapies, enhancing access to life-saving treatments and supporting healthcare sustainability across underserved populations in MENA and beyond.