UAE explores new treatment options for diabetes, multiple sclerosis

Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Center (ADSCC) will conduct new clinical trials to assess innovative treatments for diabetes and multiple sclerosis in the UAE.

It is pioneering the 'OPERA' trial for Diabetes Mellitus (DM) Type 1 and the 'PHOMS' trial for Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

The trials will explore therapeutic alternatives for treating both diseases and analyse the efficacy of the intervention.

According to a 2019 International Diabetes Federation (IDF) report, the UAE has one of the world’s highest prevalence rates of diabetes at 16.3 per cent.

Meanwhile, the prevalence of MS in the UAE is approximately 64 cases per 100,000 people, almost double the global average, according to a 2019 research article published by scientists at the Sheikh Khalifa Medical City.

Dr Yendry Ventura, Specialist in Immunology and General Manager of ADSCC, said, "The seminal ‘OPERA’ and ‘PHOMS’ clinical trials will provide new insights into the treatment of the diseases to both improve the quality of healthcare in the UAE and help raise awareness about the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle."

Protocols for the trials are currently under review by the Ethics Committee of ADSCC before being presented to the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi for approval.

In conducting the trials, ADSCC will use Extracorporeal Photopheresis (ECP), a United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved therapy for conditions such as Graft Versus Host Disease and Cutaneous T Cell Lymphoma.

Earlier in 2020, ADSCC became the first-ever research centre in the UAE to conduct a clinical trial with the Sentad-Covid Study in April 2020.

And in July 2020, ADSCC launched the 'Abu Dhabi Bone Marrow Transplant (AD-BMT)' programme, which treats blood cancer patients using stem cells. To date, the AD- BMT programme has successfully treated four patients.