UAE'S CLINICAL TRIALS LANDSCAPE MATURES

 

The clinical trials landscape in the UAE has developed significantly over the past years. With support from the government, there is increased focus on conducting more trials to evaluate new drugs and therapies. During the Covid-19 pandemic, several vaccine trials were conducted in the country which helped expand its clinical research capabilities. 

Regulators in the UAE now want to capitalize on this momentum. Guidelines and rules have been established to make the approval process for trials more streamlined. This includes establishing institutional review boards to oversee medical ethics. Companies like IROS have also emerged as the first CRO to support local and international sponsors. Their expertise helps address regional challenges in areas like recruitment and logistics.

Factors like the Emirati Genome Program also enhance the UAE's clinical potential. Mapping the genetic data of Emiratis aids in identifying suitable patient populations for rare disease research. Regional collaborations involving entities such as family venture capital offices additionally boost trial funding. Investments made today can lead to groundbreaking discoveries and eventual adoption of newly developed treatments.

Conducting trials is made easier through cultural characteristics as well. Patients generally trust physicians and are inclined to consider participating if recommended. This differs from other regions and supports faster enrollment. Public-private partnerships also drive innovation as the government works with pharma companies. The end-goal involves establishing the UAE as a top clinical research destination.

The experience gained from managing Covid19 vaccine evaluations provided valuable lessons. Emergency approvals demonstrated agility within the ecosystem while training local teams. As studies resume across other areas, these capabilities will continue developing the skillsets of groups like CROs hospitals and investigators. Over time complex trials can increasingly be spearheaded entirely in the UAE.  

With a growing number of regulations and enabling factors the future remains bright for clinical research expansion. Ongoing reforms aim to maintain the UAE's clinical research momentum in a manner that attracts global sponsors and delivers high quality studies. This charts an exciting course for improving regional healthcare through novel treatment discoveries.