The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), the regulator of the healthcare sector in the Emirate, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Novartis Middle East FZE, a global pharmaceutical company.

Under the terms of the MoU, the entities will work together to advance solutions in multiple therapeutic areas. The two priority focus areas include advancing clinical genomics research for real-world evidence (RWE) and generating and disseminating evidence to support the understanding of radioligand therapy (RLT) for cancer patients.

In the presence of Thierry Diagana, Head of Global Health and California Sites Head at Novartis Biomedical Research, the MoU was signed by Dr Asma Ibrahim Al Mannaei, the Executive Director of the Research and Innovation Centre at DoH and Ibrahim Aqel, Head of Government Affairs and Value & Access – Gulf at Novartis.

This collaboration will utilise Abu Dhabi's genomics expertise as well as its future-forward, agile regulatory framework research hub to collaborate on future clinical research and the generation of RWE. This will include the exploration of innovative solutions and genomics research in oncology, cardiovascular disease, and neuroscience.

The two will also work together to generate and disseminate evidence to support the awareness and understanding of RLT, a form of precision nuclear medicine that may recognise and treat disease in patients with advanced cancers, with key stakeholders, including policymakers, healthcare professionals and patient organisations.

Under the MoU, Novartis will also work with DoH to explore innovative solutions for local and regional health needs. This will include supporting the Emirati Genome Programme by collaborating to raise awareness of genetic and rare diseases for the benefit of patients in Abu Dhabi and the broader region. The final focus area is supporting the further improvement of the Health Technology Assessment through facilitated partnership and shared best practice.