DuBiotech achieves major milestones in three years of operations

It has been launching significant initiatives such as the BioTiqania subsidiary and Gulf Anti-doping and Monitoring Enterprise as part of its efforts to evolve as a global hub for the life sciences industry.

Addressing business partners and associates at a dinner reception hosted to commemorate its third anniversary, Dr. Abdulqader Alkhayat, Executive Director, DuBiotech, emphasized the free zone's contribution to the industry as an incubator for researchers as well as scientists, while serving as the centre for production, creativity and development.

Dedicated to creating an advanced technical and community infrastructure for the life sciences industry in the region, the biotech park early this year unveiled BioTiqania, a world class training institute for scientific and industrial disciplines.

It also launched the Gulf Anti-doping and Monitoring Enterprise (GAME), a pioneering laboratory dedicated to conducting anti-doping measures for professional and amateur athletes in the UAE.

Dr. Alkhayat said:

"We are pleased to confirm that Dubiotech has successfully arrived at a stage for laying down the framework to facilitate excellence in biotechnology. Since our launch in 2005, we have achieved considerable growth in promoting the industry, with 35 companies and more in the process of receiving their licenses. This is in addition to the upcoming projects that will be announced by the end of this year."

Some business partners have acknowledged DuBiotech's contribution to the industry as well as to their operations in the region.

Ashraf Allam, Regional Managing Director for Middle East, Africa and Turkey for Amgen, the global biotechnology leader, said: "We are extremely grateful for the support that Dubiotech has extended in order to raise Amgen's profile in the region. Over the last two years, we have achieved a remarkable growth of more than 100%, with Amgen Middle East rising as one of the key growth areas among the company's international emerging markets."

Last year, NeoBiocon Ltd, a joint venture between an Indian biotechnology giant Biocon Ltd and the Abu Dhabi based pharmaceutical manufacturer NeoPharma, set up its regional headquarters at DuBiotech.

Sumit Bhanot, Operations and Marketing Head for NeoBiocon, said: "NeoBiocon was established with a vision to provide affordable biotherapeutics and educate the public on the debilitating effects of lifestyle-related diseases. DuBiotech has successfully created a conducive environment, helping companies such as ours to deliver world class biotech products that meet the medical requirements of the region."

DuBiotech aims to provide the necessary infrastructure not only to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, but for all entities involved in the life sciences industry, including the agricultural, environmental, and marine biotechnology sectors.

Bridging research, education and industry through national and international collaboration, the research park is working closely with the UAE Ministry of Health, the Dubai Health Authority, and other regulatory bodies to further develop the life sciences industry in the country.