Health: Bahrain joins sickle cell drug research – Gulf Digital News

Health: Bahrain joins sickle cell drug research – Gulf Digital News

Arabian Gulf University (AGU) President Dr.Khalid bin Abdulrahman Al Ohali signed a tripartite co-operation agreement in this regard with Government Hospitals CEO Dr. Ahmed Al Ansari and two executive directors representing drugmaker Novartis.

The pre-clinical research will be launched on May 28, after obtaining all approvals from the Research Ethics Committees and the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA).

This study will be conducted in three stages in Bahrain, in addition to three other GCC countries, it was announced.

Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) and AGU are stepping up efforts to develop Bahrain competences to meeting national and GCC needs in clinical researches through co-operation with leading international research and pharma companies. About 250 patients will be admitted, including 50 from Bahrain, who will be treated with the drug “crizanlizumab”.

The sample will be followed up for two years at a rate of one visit every two months.

The university will play a major role in supervising the clinical study and direct support to the SMC in implementing the research in addition to conducting training courses, while Novartis will provide financial funding and provide all clinical research requirements.