Forum: UAE conducted 57 clinical trials in 2018

The UAE leads in health sector research and development in the region, a top official at the Ministry of Health and Prevention said.

Presenting his keynote address at the first clinical research forum for GCC and the region, Dr Amin Hussain Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary of Public Health Policy and Licensing Sector, said: “The UAE conducted 57 clinical trials in 2018 representing 6.2 people per million of our total population, which is the highest figure in the region.

“Saudi Arabia and Egypt too conducted around 57 clinical trials, but in proportion to their population the representation is much lower than UAE. Research and good clinical practices are a crucial element of health care in the UAE and we are committed to it.”

Dr Amiri noted that globally, the pharmaceutical industry spends nearly $165 billion (Dh606 billion) on R&D.

“As per World Health Organisation (WHO) reports, only five in 5,000 compounds that are pre-clinically tested actually make it to human testing, and only one of those five are ultimately deemed safe enough to reach pharmacy shelves,” he revealed.