DOHMS and DuBiotech sign Memorandum of Understanding at Arab Health 2006 to promote biotech development in UAE

Under the framework of the MoU signed between the two organisations, DuBiotech and DoHMS will pool their expertise to develop regulatory, research, testing, educational, entrepreneurial and ethical resources in the UAE's biotechnology sector.

"Both our organisations recognise the potential of biotechnology to fundamentally transform our economy and improve the quality of life of our people," Dr. Abdulqader Al Khayat, Executive Director of DuBiotech, said at the signing ceremony at the Dubai International Exhibitions Centre. "Our MoU is aimed at working together to stimulate and promote development in the newly emerging biotechnology industry in the country. I am confident that all the various players in this industry will benefit immensely from our cooperative effort," he added.

Cooperation will cover six specific areas:

Operational and regulatory aspects
The two organisations will work to create a regulatory framework for registration of biotech and pharmaceutical products imported and locally manufactured, pricing, label specs, and advertising of products.

Testing centre for drugs
DuBiotech and DoHMS will cooperate to establish a Drug Quality Control and Quality Assurance Laboratory. This facility will test drugs for local distribution and also provide services on contract basis for other markets. It will provide "certification of analysis" for both finished products and raw materials used in manufacturing of biotech products. The lab will also check spurious products with false claims as well as approve labelling and packaging of the product.

Research and development
Both organisations will encourage development of contract research and independent research facilities, particularly in basic gene sequencing work, cDNA library preparation, and genetic research related to medical diagnostics apart from early stage drug development. Funding and grants programmes will be introduced to promote research.

Advisory Committees
DuBiotech and DoHMS will create advisory committees that will counsel both parties on ethical issues in fields such as Gene Therapy.

Attracting companies and entrepreneurial support
As part of growing the industry, both organisations will jointly attract biotech, pharmaceutical and medical instrument companies to DuBiotech as well as provide support for both local and overseas entrepreneurs.

Continuing Education programs
As education is key to the availability of biotech skills, DuBiotech and DoHMS will work to provide continuing education programmes utilising both public and private sector resources.

The progress of the Memorandum of Understanding will be reviewed every quarter by a joint working group consisting of four members from DoHMS and DuBiotech.

The Dubai Biotechnology and Research Park is one of more than 2,000 healthcare and medical services exhibitors participating in Arab Health 2006, the largest multi-track medical congress in the world. The exhibition continues until Wednesday, January 25, 2006.