Abu Dhabi Slashes Cancer Care Costs by 90%
- Publish date: since 5 days
Abu Dhabi is taking a major step forward in the fight against cancer. The city is set to host the Middle East’s first heavy ion cancer therapy facility, one of only 15 such centers in the world, offering new hope to patients with hard-to-treat tumors.
The high-tech facility will be built at the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Centre at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, with construction expected to begin in 2026. Once operational, it will be the only center of its kind within a five-hour flight from the emirate.
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What Is Carbon Ion Therapy?
The therapy offered here is called carbon ion therapy, a cutting-edge form of radiotherapy that uses high-energy particles to precisely target cancer cells.
What sets it apart is its ability to aggressively destroy cancerous tissue while sparing healthy cells. This makes it especially promising for tumors that don’t respond well to traditional treatment.
Hasan Al Nowais, managing director and group CEO of M42, the health group leading the project, said the facility represents a major leap in specialized cancer care for the region.
Locally Produced CAR T-Cell Therapy to Cut Costs by 90%
In another major announcement at Abu Dhabi Global Health Week, Burjeel Holdings revealed a partnership with US-based non-profit Caring Cross to locally manufacture CAR T-cell therapy, a personalized and powerful type of cancer immunotherapy.
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How CAR T-Cell Therapy Works
CAR T-cell therapy works by collecting a patient’s blood, modifying their immune cells in a lab to recognize and attack cancer, and then returning them to the patient’s body.
It’s considered one of the most advanced and effective treatments in the world, but also one of the most expensive. In the US, a single treatment can cost over $1.5 million.
By producing and delivering this therapy locally, Abu Dhabi aims to reduce the cost by up to 90%, making it far more accessible to patients across the region.
Abu Dhabi’s Big Leap in Cancer Care
Between the launch of the region’s first heavy ion therapy center and the move to locally produce advanced cancer treatments, Abu Dhabi is positioning itself as a global hub for cutting-edge cancer care, with real potential to save lives and make treatment affordable for more people.
