The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi and Eli Lilly Suisse S.A to collaborate to advance Neurodegenerative Disease patient care in the Emirate

The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), the healthcare sector regulator in the Emirate, and Eli Lilly Suisse S.A., (group company of Eli Lilly and Company, the American pharmaceutical company and a global healthcare leader), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during Abu Dhabi Global Healthcare Week (ADGHW) earlier this month.

In reflection of Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading destination for healthcare and life science, this strategic cooperation seeks to establish a framework for renewed collaboration through enhancing neurodegenerative disease patient care in the Emirate. The Agreement will witness establishment of a center of excellence in neurodegenerative disease care by the DoH. The center will include therapeutic innovations, advanced diagnostic technologies and the latest advancement in patient monitoring and follow-up protocols.

Signed by Dr. Asma Al Mannaei, Executive Director of the Research and Innovation Center at the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi and Irina Zaporozhets, President and General Manager for Lilly in the Middle East and Turkey, the MoU will enable both parties to leverage existing and emerging neurodegenerative disease treatments and care technologies within the Emirate. The collaboration aims to transform early detection landscapes and elevate patient care standards. It will leverage innovation in neurodegenerative disease care and will entail investment in pioneering therapeutic, personalised medicine and leading-edge diagnostic technologies.

Dr. Asma Al Mannaei, Executive Director of the Research and Innovation Center at the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi said: “Advancing neurodegenerative disease patient care and employing data-driven technologies for prevention and early intervention are vital for enhancing treatment efficacy and mitigating disease progression. DoH is proud to build on its partnership with Lilly to further improve neurodegenerative disease patient outcomes, providing quality care and breakthrough treatments available to patients globally. This MoU is paving the way for the region’s transformative journey of controlling this disease, using innovation, life science and valuable partnerships with global players in the field.”

Dr. Al Mannaei added: “Through refining diagnostic processes and implementing state-of-the-art early detection, this partnership will help in advancing the management of neurodegenerative disease in a proactive way. It will facilitate the much-needed transition from healthcare to health, a departure from the traditional reactive model of treating illnesses to a proactive focus on promoting holistic health and wellness.”

Irina Zaporozhets, President and General Manager for Lilly in the Middle East and Turkey said: “Lilly is very excited today to celebrate advances in a very complex area of neurodegeneration at the ADGHW. For 30 years we have been working to find solutions to one of the most pressing health challenges of our time that is affecting millions of patients worldwide. Through this MoU, Lilly is extremely proud and committed to support patients in UAE. We thank the DoH for focusing on patient care by establishing the first such centre of excellence and care for treatment of neurodegenerative disease in the UAE.”

Irina added: “I am sure that, together, Lilly and Abu Dhabi can help those neurodegenerative disorders become a distant memory in the near future”.

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, Abu Dhabi Global Healthcare Week (ADGHW) is a major government initiative from the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi, held on 13th-15th May 2024, seeks to accelerate collaboration, innovation, and investment, and bring together researchers, policymakers, healthcare specialists, investors, and entrepreneurs across the global healthcare and life-science ecosystem.