Dh3m up for grabs in medical patents race

Innovations include new antibiotic compounds, catheter devices and systems to correct ear defects

Anew class of antibiotic compounds, a device to correct an ear defect that affects 300 million people and a new catheter that is safer and easier to use were some of the 23 projects for which patents were announced in the capital yesterday.

The patents were announced during the Technology and Innovation Pioneers (TIP) Healthcare Awards, an annual prize that seeks to recognise innovation in the health care sector. A total of Dh3 million will be distributed among the winners, who presented ideas for patents, proofs of concept and startup purposes, in this first cycle of the awards.

“This is really exciting because what we are seeing here today are game-changers. Can you imagine the development of a new class of antibiotics that is effective against multidrug resistant bacteria? It would come at a time when the whole world is grappling with antibiotic resistance, and that too from the UAE,” said Dr Asma Al Mannaei, director of health care quality at the Abu Dhabi Department of Health (DOH), told Gulf News.

“Or consider the market-disruptive patent for the device which corrects an ear defect affecting five per cent of the world’s population. All of this is unprecedented in the UAE, and would change health care across the world,” she added.

Widepread participation

The TIP Healthcare Awards were organised by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development in collaboration with the health department. The awardees included Emiratis, resident researchers, a number of international applicants, and even an Emirati with special needs. The exact value of each grant was not announced however.