UAE scales up local drug production to cut imports of complex biologics

Mubadala Bio, the UAE national pharmaceutical manufacturing entity, has launched two new biologic treatments for immune-mediated diseases to be produced at its BioVenture Healthcare facility. The company announced on Wednesday, 7 October, that it will manufacture and distribute adalimumab and ustekinumab to treat chronic inflammatory conditions. Targeting inflammatory and autoimmune conditions The first therapy, adalimumab, is a monoclonal antibody designed to target tumour necrosis factor (TNF). It is indicated for patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis. The second treatment, ustekinumab, inhibits interleukins 12 and 23 (IL-12 and IL-23), providing a therapeutic option for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis and non-infectious uveitis. Dr Esam Mohamed, Chief Executive Officer of Mubadala Bio, stated that the addition of these therapies to the company’s biologics portfolio is intended to broaden access to specialised treatments within the domestic market. The treatments are available by prescription only and must be administered under the supervision of licensed healthcare professionals. Localising advanced pharmaceutical production This launch follows a series of recent expansions by Mubadala Bio, including the introduction of the UAE’s first locally manufactured haemodialysis solutions. Hamad Al Marzouqi, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, noted that the move is part of a broader strategy to localise…