Sanofi today announced the launch of an innovative therapy that is seen to significantly help adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) in the UAE. 

 

The UAE is one of the first few countries in the world to make the therapy available to patients, following a fast-track approval by the Ministry of Health & Prevention, Sanofi said. 

 

“Launching healthcare innovations in the UAE is high on the agenda of the Ministry of Health & Prevention, and we have taken significant steps in the past years to accelerate the availability of innovations and breakthrough that improve people’s lives and enhance their happiness. We are indeed driven by the vision of our beloved country leaders who want people living in our beautiful country to enjoy highest standards of life,” said Dr Amin Al Amiri,  Asst. Undersecretary for Public Health Policy and License Sector in UAE Ministry of Health & Prevention. 

 

Atopic dermatitis, a form of eczema, is a chronic inflammatory disease with symptoms often appearing as a rash on the skin. It is caused, in part, by an underlying inflammation in the body that is believed to be driven by an overactive immune system.

 

Moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis is characterised by rashes often covering much of the body, and can include intense, persistent itching and skin dryness, cracking, redness, crusting, and oozing. Itch is one of the most difficult symptoms for patients and can be severely debilitating. In addition, they experience impaired quality of life, including disrupted sleep, and increased anxiety and depression symptoms along with their disease.

 

“People with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis can experience unbearable symptoms. Most of them endure uncontrollable itch and bleeding lesions. So, to say that this condition negatively impacts their quality of life is an understatement,” said Dr Anwar Al Hammadi, consultant and head of dermatology at Dubai Health Authority and president of Emirates Dermatology Society. 

 

“Patients struggle to effectively control their disease with the treatment options currently available.”

 

The new therapy introduced is jointly developed by Sanofi and Regeneron under a global collaboration agreement. It is a first-in-class biologic medicine approved by the European Commission (EC) to treat adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) who are candidates for systemic therapy. The EC approval of the medicine was based on data from the global Liberty AD clinical trial programme that included approximately 2,800 adults living with this serious disease. It has demonstrated a significant reduction in the signs and symptoms of the disease and improvement in quality of life, Sanofi said.

 

“At Sanofi, it remains a key priority for us to bring first to the country innovative treatments, and to make sure that the most number of people to have access to them. The efforts of the UAE Ministry of Health to accelerate the availability of new innovative treatments for the patients in the UAE is, indeed, remarkable,” said Jean Paul Scheuer, country chair and general manager for Sanofi Gulf. The introduction of this therapy is an important milestone for people living with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis in UAE.  – TradeArabia News Service