New drug to treat liver, lung cancer now available in UAE

Image: WAM

Pharma giant AstraZeneca has launched a new cancer medication to treat lung and liver cancers in the UAE.

The UAE is one of the first countries in the Middle East to receive the medication, which is called Imjudo, the state news agency WAM reported.

The US Food and Drug Administration approved the drug in October 2022.

Clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy and tolerability of Imjudo (tremelimumab) in combination in various types of cancer, including metastatic non-small cell lung cancer and hepatobiliary cancers. The drug is said to have shown “promising” results in extending progression-free survival and overall survival rates, empowering patients with better treatment outcomes and a higher quality of life.

UAE supplements its growing cancer care capabilities with a revolutionary medication#WamNews https://t.co/oQ1dkVrY9L pic.twitter.com/P8dOckc2Q0

— WAM English (@WAMNEWS_ENG) June 1, 2023

The UAE is committed to further the fight against cancer

Following the directives of the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP), the UAE has been consistently implementing comprehensive strategies to enhance cancer care, improve early detection, and promote innovative treatments.

According to WAM, Sameh El Fangary, GCC and Pakistan cluster president at AstraZeneca, stated: “Our mission is to continue to collaborate with our partners to transform health and wellbeing for people, society, and the planet. This collaboration highlights our unwavering commitment to accelerate the latest innovation to the UAE and to the region, inspired by our strategic focus to eliminate cancer-related deaths.”

Dr Humaid Al Shamsi, head of Emirates Oncology Society added that the medication represented an important step “in our global fight against several types of cancer, especially that the primary data supporting this revolutionary medication indicates that it is the first and only approved therapy in combination with Imfinzi having three-year data in first-line advanced or unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma”.