From $1m to 100,000: Cancer treatment costs in UAE to see 90% fall

Abu Dhabi: In a groundbreaking move to transform cancer treatment access across the region, UAE’s Burjeel Holdings has partnered with US-based non-profit Caring Cross to locally manufacture CAR-T cell therapies at up to 90 per cent less than current international costs.

Caring Cross will support Burjeel with the necessary technology, materials, and specialised training to establish a local ecosystem for manufacturing CAR-T therapies – one of the most expensive medical treatments. They will also provide lentiviral vectors essential for clinical development.

CAR-T therapies, which reprogramme a patient’s immune cells to attack cancer cells, have shown remarkable success in treating certain blood cancers, such as leukaemia and lymphoma. However, with costs ranging from $350,000 to more than $1 million in global markets, access remains severely restricted. This partnership seeks to dismantle that barrier by enabling the production of CAR-T therapies at a fraction of the current price, making these treatments accessible to a much broader patient population in the region and beyond.

Life-saving treatments

The first phase of the programme will focus on CAR-T therapies for leukaemia and lymphoma, with plans to explore treatments for other diseases, including HIV, in the future. The collaboration was announced at Abu Dhabi Global Health Week in the presence of Dr Shamsheer Vayalil, Founder and Chairman of Burjeel Holdings, and other top officials.

John Sunil, Group CEO of Burjeel Holdings, noted that Caring Cross’ expertise in CAR-T cell therapy production technology will enable affordable and life-saving treatments for patients.

“This partnership is a pivotal step in our commitment to advancing medical innovation and expanding access to critical healthcare services,” Sunil said.
Boro Dropulic, Executive Director of Caring Cross, said they aim to improve access to CAR-T cell for patients.
“This collaboration advances our mission to make these groundbreaking treatments accessible and affordable around the world. By combining our innovative technologies with Burjeel Holdings hospital network and infrastructure, we intend to significantly improve patient access with a sustainable and cost-effective model.”

Monumental stride

The partnership will focus on training and developing local healthcare providers, ensuring the sustainable and scalable delivery of CAR-T therapies across Mena, India, and globally.
Dr Ajlan Al Zaki, Director of the Haematology Oncology and Cellular Therapy Center at Burjeel Hospital Abu Dhabi, noted the collaboration opens doors to biological therapies not just in Mena, but also in emerging markets like India and other parts of Asia.
“This is a monumental stride in enhancing access to cancer treatments and addressing the escalating need for advanced healthcare globally,” Dr Al Zaki added.