Flexibility can give Middle East biomedical lead

"The Middle East has a distinct advantage because of the flexibility of Islam on several of the issues dividing thought in the west," said Dr Colleen Lyons, a consultant on biopharmacology ethics and business development.

Bioethics in Islam broadly accepts new technologies by emphasising medical prevention and teaching that patients must be treated with respect and compassion with the physical, mental and spiritual dimensions of illness taken into account, she added.

Dr Lyons is one of a panel of high profile regional and international speakers taking part in the Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Middle East (PABME) exhibition and conference which opened yesterday and runs until Tuesday (29 April) at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre.

Five major conferences are taking place at PABME including the examination of ethical, religious and cultural issues; a regulatory workshop on developing practical skills; Facilities Design, Upgrade and Expansion; Pharma and Biotech Opportunities in Emerging Markets; and a Clinical Trial Congress.

PABME 2008 is the largest show of its kind in the region with top decision makers from over 80 countries registered to attend with joint ventures, technology transfers and representation contracts worth millions of dollars expected to result.

"A lot of work needs to be done to educate western companies about the different interpretations of Islam," Dr Lyons said. "The Middle East and Dubai in particular through developments such as Dubiotech could greatly assist in the attainment of many global health goals."

Dubiotech, a 30 million square feet research park and the region's first dedicated life sciences hub, is a leading sponsor of PABME which is supported by the Ministry of Health of the United Arab Emirates.

Dr Ali Bin Shakar, Director General United Arab Emirates Ministry of Health, officially opened PABME yesterday and toured the exhibition in which more than 100 companies from over 25 countries in the Middle East, Asia, Europe, the Americas, Africa and Australasia are taking part. China, with over 25 companies, is mounting the biggest pavilion at the show.

China is one of a number of countries in the world making big investments in biotechnology. Others include many European Union countries, India, Japan, Malaysia, Korea, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, said G. Steven Burrill, Chief Executive Officer, Burrill & Company, speaking on the global biotech industry.

Global pharmaceutical sales are expected to top $1.3 trillion by 2020 and the combined pharmaceutical markets of the Arabian Gulf, North Africa, Levant and Iran is currently estimated to be valued at over $12bn and growing at an annual rate of 10%.

Burrill sees a growing role for the Arabian Gulf in biotechnology as a result of developments such as Dubiotech as well as others such as a $1 billion healthcare city near Muscat by Oman's Majan Development Company and Gulf Investment House; a $3bn medical centre in Doha, Qatar; the Cleveland Clinic development by Mubadala and Aldar in Abu Dhabi; and decisions by foreign companies such as Pfizer, Qualiphar-Gifrer, GE Healthcare and Newbridge Pharmaceuticals to set up and invest in the region.

The health cost of a packet of smokes

The healthcare cost of one packet of cigarettes is as high as $40, according to a leading pharmaceutical industry analyst.

G. Steven Burrill, Chief Executive Officer, Burrill & Company, speaking at the Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Middle East (PABME) exhibition and conference yesterday (27 April 2008) identified wellness programmes to reduce health risks as a major growth area for the future.

"The time has come for wellness," Burrill added. Rising healthcare costs, increasing incidence of chronic disease and recognition of the importance of genetic variation are driving factors.

He pointed out that 30 to 60% of health insurance claims in the US are related to health risks modifiable by nutrition, exercise and stress reduction. "For example, the healthcare cost of smoking over a lifetime is estimated at $220,000 per person - the equivalent of $40 per pack of cigarettes smoked." Burrill said.