Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Center (ADSCC) on Monday announced that it will perform new clinical trials to analyse innovative treatments and solutions for diabetes and multiple sclerosis in the UAE, noting that they are two of the biggest health issues in the country. ADSCC is a specialist healthcare center in the UAE focusing on cell therapy and regenerative medicine.

The Center is leading the ‘OPERA’ trial for Diabetes Mellitus (DM) Type 1 and the ‘PHOMS’ trial for Multiple Sclerosis (MS), aimed at exploring therapeutic alternatives and treatments for both diseases and assess the efficacy of the intervention.

As per a 2019 International Diabetes Federation (IDF) report, one of the world's highest prevalence rates of diabetes lies in the UAE. At the same time, MS prevalence in the UAE is also approximately 64 cases per 100,000 people, according to a 2019 research article published by scientists at the Sheikh Khalifa Medical City.

Speaking over the development, Dr Yendry Ventura, Specialist in Immunology and General Manager of ADSCC, stated that high rates of diabetes and multiple sclerosis in the UAE pose a grave threat to the quality of life of the people in the country. He expressed concerns over the increasing number of diabetes cases, adding that its potential implications have aggravated by a lack of therapeutic solutions.

Dr Ventura noted that the seminal ‘OPERA’ and ‘PHOMS’ clinical trials are aimed at providing new insights into the treatment of the two diseases in a bid to improve the healthcare quality in the UAE and raise awareness among the people about the significance of leading a healthy lifestyle.

"With the UAE celebrating its 49th National Day, the announcement of these clinical trials is a testament to our commitment to continually serve and protect the UAE and its people," Dr Ventura added.

The Ethics Committee of ADSCC is currently reviewing the protocols of the trials before they are presented to the Department of Health-Abu Dhabi for approval. As per reports, the ADSCC conducted the trials using Extracorporeal Photopheresis (ECP) - a United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved therapy for health issues such as Graft Versus Host Disease and Cutaneous T Cell Lymphoma.

ADSCC possesses extensive research expertise and technological advantage that allows it to discover strategies to support disease immunomodulation through this therapeutic alternative and its potential impact on the effectiveness of its use for intervention.

In April 2020, the ADSCC emerged as the first-ever research centre in the UAE to conduct a clinical trial with its Sentad-COVID Study. Later in July 2020, the centre launched the "Abu Dhabi Bone Marrow Transplant (AD-BMT)" program aimed at treating blood cancer patients using stem cells. So far, the AD- BMT program has been successful in treating four patients.

WAM