Mubadala Investment Company and Khalifa University of Science and Technology have launched a Life Sciences Innovation Programme to fund early-stage research in therapeutics, medical devices and other healthcare technologies, state news agency WAM reported on Friday.
Mubadala Bio, Mubadala’s wholly owned life sciences company, and Khalifa University Enterprises Company, the university’s business and investment arm, will run the program jointly, with Khalifa University as delivery partner. No funding amount was disclosed.
Mubadala and Khalifa University Enterprises Company will jointly fund a portfolio of projects in Mubadala Bio’s core therapy areas, including cardiometabolic, central nervous system, oncology, musculoskeletal, and men’s and women’s health, with priority for conditions where existing treatments are limited.
Mubadala Bio also plans to set up a commercial research and development laboratory on Khalifa University’s main campus, within its College of Medicine and Health Sciences. The lab is expected to focus on complex, high-value medicines, potentially including sterile injectables, peptides and RNA therapies, and to support Mubadala Bio’s UAE manufacturing companies.
The agreement was signed at the Abu Dhabi Future Health Summit by Dr. Bakheet Al Katheeri, chief executive officer of Mubadala’s UAE Investments Platform and chairman of Mubadala Bio; Professor Ebrahim Al Hajri, president of Khalifa University; and Amal Al Jaberi, chief executive officer of Khalifa University Enterprises Company.
Al Katheeri said localizing pharmaceutical manufacturing reduces reliance on external supply, and that the partnership supports the UAE’s goal of a knowledge-based economy.
Mubadala Bio has announced several partnerships this week, including an agreement with Eli Lilly on packaging GLP-1 medicines in Abu Dhabi and a deal for its unit IDS to distribute GSK medicines in the UAE.
