Tagged with GCC

MEA A quarter-century after the Human Genome Project revolutionized biology, genomic sequencing has matured from an ambitious scientific frontier into an indispensable clinical reality. Today, molecular insights routinely guide everything from targeted oncology to rare disease diagnostics. Yet, this genomic revolution harbours a profound systemic bias: nearly 90 percent of all…

MEA After years of foundational investment in genomics, population screening, and rare disease diagnostics, Gulf nations are entering a transformative era: the delivery of advanced therapeutics. The cell and gene therapy (CGT) landscape within the GCC has fundamentally shifted from importing foreign cures to establishing localized, highly sophisticated manufacturing and clinical…

GCC Healthcare transformation across the GCC is entering a new phase, driven by major investments in precision medicine, genomics, and healthcare system modernisation, with countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE positioning themselves at the forefront of global healthcare innovation. Against this backdrop, Bristol Myers Squibb is expanding its role…

MEA Mohamed Abu Shawish of Kyowa Kirin discusses how the company is reducing the time to diagnosis for rare diseases, increasing patient identification, and building local capacity across the GCC. He highlights the steps taken to disease awareness, genetic testing pathways, family mapping approaches and supporting access to rare disease medications.…

MEA Rare diseases remain among the most complex and least visible challenges facing healthcare systems, particularly in regions where genetic factors amplify the burden. In this conversation, Ahmed Salem, Head of AstraZeneca Rare Diseases in the Gulf, reflects on how rare disease strategy is translated into regional action, spanning innovation, diagnostics,…

MEA As healthcare systems across the GCC accelerate their focus on innovation, access, and advanced therapies, Novartis is positioning the region at the centre of its long-term strategy. Mohamed Ezz Eldin shares how global priorities are translated into local execution, from rare disease care and genomics to clinical research and innovative…

MEA Biogen’s transformation into a rare disease-focused organisation is reshaping how innovation reaches patients in the GCC. Diederik Kok, the company’s GCC Head reflects on how global strategy translates into regional execution, from launching first-in-class therapies and navigating access for ultra-rare conditions, to building sustainable financing models, clinical research capacity, and…

Saudi Arabia Localising the production of medicines has become a core priority for the Saudi government over the past decade as it attempts to increase national health security, create highly skilled jobs, and grow the non-oil economy. Multinational innovators now have a wide range of incentives (as well as enforcement tactics) to…

Saudi Arabia With Saudi Arabia striving to position itself as a regional leader in biopharmaceutical R&D by 2030 and to cement itself as a global hub before 2040, there has been a coordinated attempt to align research centres across the country under a unified national framework. This National Biotech Strategy, unveiled by…

Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia has long represented an alluring marketplace for the global MedTech industry. Not only does the Kingdom constitute the largest spender on healthcare across the Middle East and North Africa region, but its medical device sector has been experiencing consistent compound annual growth rates of over six percent and…

Saudi Arabia Eye health is vital to everyday life, yet it remains heavily underfunded compared to fields like cancer or diabetes. While global spending on oncology is set to reach USD 440 billion by 2028, ophthalmology will receive just USD 38 billion, according to IQVIA. This gap is striking given the growing…

Saudi Arabia With increased average disposable income in Saudi Arabia eliciting more sedentary lifestyles and less healthy dietary choices, more than 68 percent of all mortality in the Kingdom is nowadays attributed to non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Not only does this come at immense cost to the public purse, but also presents a…