Dubiotech’s pioneering role in UAE

It is estimated that almost half of the UAE's Dh49.1 billion federal budget for 2015 will be spent on areas such as health, education and social services. For innovation to be at the core of the development of health, for example, biotechnology is necessarily the driving force. In fact, improving the quality of health care is heavily dependent on biotechnology.
So what is biotechnology? Simply explained, biotechnology is based on biology and has been around for thousands of years. Even a simple act of baking bread, making yoghurt or cheese involves biotechnology. The science harnesses cellular and bio-molecular processes to develop technologies and products that help improve our lives and our health.
In Dubai, the setting up of the Dubiotech Free Zone a decade ago has provided a conducive environment for international biotechnology companies to pursue their path-breaking endeavours.
Dubiotech, established in 2005, has fostered the growth of the life sciences industry in the region, and is gaining more and more significance by the year. The free zone has provided a congenial atmosphere and tactical support to life sciences entrepreneurs and research organisations and supported international pharmaceutical companies to set up their laboratories on its premises. As a result, within a decade, more than 195 life sciences companies such as Pfizer, Merck-Serono, Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Maquet, National Reference Lab, ThermoFisher, Bayer, Mylan, Firmenich and IFF have established their offices within the free zone. Its eco-friendly nucleotide laboratory complex provides a 256,000 square foot facility for pharmaceutical companies to carry out experiments and clinical trials.
Marwan Abdul Aziz, Executive Director of Dubiotech, spoke to Gulf Newsabout the importance of innovation in the life sciences sector. "Biotechnology and life sciences impact the environment, agriculture and health sector. It is globally a US$200 billion industry. We are focusing on the pharmaceutical and health sector in the UAE and, after the success of other knowledge free zones, it was important to have a free zone for life sciences. When we started this project, we wanted to create a benchmark for others. Our work included setting up R & D facilities for various international pharmaceutical firms to develop and manufacture important drugs here. We wanted to partner in setting up universities and institutes for scientific research, capitalising on that and building a market around it.”
Abdul Aziz said that his organisation followed a model that involved encouraging world-renowned international pharmaceutical companies to set up shop in the free zone and where Dubiotech could work closely to manage their sales and markets. They would be provided facilities such as stores, warehouses, laboratories and, most importantly, the right atmosphere for clinical trials and manufacturing drugs here.
Importance of drug research for the UAE
At the moment, nearly 85-90 per cent of drugs consumed in the UAE are imported. "By providing an opportunity to these international pharmaceuticals to produce locally, we might be able to bring down the prices of drugs and also create huge job opportunities,” Abdul Aziz said. "We have invested in the infrastructure and tailored it to the needs of this industry.” Dubiotech has been working very closely with the stakeholders — the industry, regulators and policymakers.
One of the most important areas where the organisation has been helpful is bridging the gap between industries and academics in harnessing the potential of science and technology graduates. This is in perfect synchrony with the UAE's aim of creating a knowledge economy that is predicated on the right jobs awaiting the decision-makers of tomorrow as they transition from university education to the real-world platform of suitable careers that drives social progress and the economy forward.
"While looking for research students from organisations such as the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) and UAE University, companies realised there was a gap between industry and academics. Now there is a move to engage students before they graduate in internships in these companies. What we want is the universities to work closely with these industries. We, on our part, talk to companies to understand the expectations they have from graduates,” explained Abdul Aziz.
One of the most important needs of the region is to have drugs and medicines that have been tested in this market. Dubiotech plays an important part in conducting local trials on drugs that may have been tested and were successful in international markets. Abdul Aziz feels by providing local clinical trials their organisation will be able to get help for Emirati patients travelling abroad right here. "We are trying to be active in reducing the number of patients going abroad for treatment, especially in cases where a drug or class of medicines that will be used for his treatment are locally available. For instance, a patient who may be treated in the US by one particular drug that can be made available here through the local office of the same pharmaceutical — this will cut costs by half.”
Ensuring halal food standards
The free zone has also assumed the role of a regulatory body that tests imported food products and ensures they adhere to halal standards. The laboratory at Dubiotech has been accredited by Dubai Municipality and regularly tests food products to see if halal standards are being observed. Dubiotech also assists the Emirates Authority of Standardisation and Metrology (Esma) to regularly screen products for traces in food items that are objectionable such as beef gelatin bovine products.
Abdul Aziz feels it is important to respect the rights of the consumers and uphold their right to have complete knowledge of the food product they are buying by way of proper food labels. "Companies must properly declare what a food product contains and label it clearly as many communities are strict about non-usage of certain food products. It is our job to test and find out and if companies are found violating particular laws, they should be fined,” said Abdul Aziz.
Source: Gulf News