Prime Highlights:
- Doctors in Abu Dhabi successfully used CAR-T cell therapy for the first time in the region to treat a severe autoimmune disease.
- The patient, a 38-year-old man, has shown early signs of recovery after struggling with lupus and a rare clotting disorder.
Key Facts:
- The treatment was carried out by specialists at the Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Centre (ADSCC) and Yas Clinic, Khalifa City.
- The patient had not responded to conventional drugs before doctors turned to CAR-T cell therapy.
Key Background:
Doctors in Abu Dhabi have made a major medical breakthrough by treating a patient with severe autoimmune diseases using his own reprogrammed immune cells. Such a condition is the first instance of CAR-T cell therapy to be used in the area, providing new hope to those patients who had no alternatives.
The patient, a 38-year-old man, was suffering from lupus, where the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, as well as a rare blood-clotting disorder called antiphospholipid syndrome. His condition had been complicated by repeated blood clots and internal bleeding that did not respond to standard medication.
Doctors at the Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Centre (ADSCC) and Yas Clinic in Khalifa City used CAR-T cell therapy after other treatments did not work. This therapy, more commonly applied in cancer cases, involves extracting a patient’s immune cells and genetically re-engineering them so they can better identify and attack disease-causing cells.
Professor Yendry Ventura, CEO of ADSCC, described the achievement as a significant leap forward. “The successful delivery of CAR-T therapy in this case reflects a bold step forward in treating severe autoimmune conditions. It is the result of years of commitment to research, innovation, and patient-centred care,” he said.
According to the medical team, the patient has shown early signs of recovery and has been discharged from the hospital. He will continue to be monitored closely to ensure remission and reduce the risks linked to his clotting disorder.
Dr. Maysoon Al Karam, Chief Medical Officer at Yas Clinic, Khalifa City, said the treatment is a major milestone for healthcare in the region. She noted that it shows the value of teamwork between ADSCC and Yas Clinic.
The case also highlights Abu Dhabi’s growing role as a center for medical innovation, in line with the UAE’s goal of becoming a global leader in healthcare and patient care.
