MEA Once regarded as a strategic afterthought by international biopharma, the Middle East has undergone a profound transformation in recent years, emerging as an early adopter of next-generation therapies for rare diseases. Regional regulatory authorities are accelerating approval timelines, reflecting an aggressive institutional ambition to secure speedy access to cutting-edge medical…
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 Long regarded as a clinical trials backwater, the Middle East has experienced a tremendous surge in clinical research over the past five years. This boom is fuelled by a global demand for representational equity and an urgent need to correct a stark imbalance, as Middle Eastern populations currently account for…
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…
Qatar Dr Tawfeg Ben-Omran, Division Chief of Genetic and Genomic Medicine at Sidra Medicine, discusses Qatar’s pioneering advancements in rare disease treatment. He explains how whole genome sequencing and expanded newborn screening drastically reduce diagnostic delays and how breakthrough gene therapies are transforming previously fatal paediatric genetic disorders into proactively treatable…
Qatar Sidra Medicine is building a vertically integrated academic medical centre where clinical care, research, and education operate as a single system to accelerate precision medicine, particularly in rare and complex paediatric diseases. In this interview, Professor Khalid Fakhro explains how the institution leverages national-scale patient cohorts, genomics infrastructure, and global…
MEA For decades, the Middle East has faced a disproportionately high burden of rare genetic disorders, fuelled both by deep-rooted cultural practices and an overreliance on Western genomic data. Fast forward to 2026, and massive genome projects across the Gulf region are attempting to shift the narrative. Backed by immense sovereign…
MEA Dr Said Ismail, geneticist and professor of genomics at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, reflects on his role as the founding director and one of the architects of the Qatar Genome Programme (QGP), one of the Middle East’s most established and globally recognised population‑level genomics initiatives. He describes the pivotal decisions…
Saudi Arabia After various leadership roles at Takeda over the course of ten years, Khaled Sary has taken on the position of general manager for the West Gulf cluster, which encompasses Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain. In conversation with PharmaBoardroom, Sary discusses the significant growth the Japanese pharma has seen in…
MEA Healthcare in the GCC continues to undergo major transformation with the introduction of government reforms, a shifting demographic and mandatory health insurance. These factors along with increased private sector participation and an ongoing infrastructure boom are poised to drive further growth in healthcare spending in the region – up to…
Qatar Investment Promotion Department (IPD) Mr. Alderbesti, can you please begin by giving our readers an overview of the core agenda of the Investment Promotion Department of the Qatari Ministry of Trade and Industry since you took the reins of the organization, and the role of healthcare and life sciences in your activities? I will…
Qatar Science and Technology Park What was the vision behind the creation of the Qatar Science and Technology Park in 2006—what was then a $600Mn first-phase investment? Qatar Foundation, and Qatar Science and Technology Park as a member of QF are helping Qatar on its journey from a hydrocarbon based economy to a knowledge based…
See our Cookie Privacy Policy Here
