In a significant advancement for cancer care in the Middle East, CellSave Arabia has achieved qualification from biotechnology leaders Gilead and Kite to deliver specialized cell storage services for lymphoma treatments across the United Arab Emirates. This strategic collaboration establishes new pathways for patients requiring advanced cellular therapies, particularly CAR T-cell treatments that represent a breakthrough in oncology care.
As the region’s premier private stem cell laboratory operating under CSG.BIO, CellSave Arabia brings state-of-the-art biobanking capabilities to this partnership. The company maintains internationally recognized accreditations including AABB, FDA, and ISO 2038 certifications, ensuring compliance with global standards for cellular preservation. This infrastructure positions the organization as a critical component in the CAR T-cell treatment process, where secure handling and storage of biological material is paramount.
Kite, a Gilead subsidiary acquired in 2017, stands as a global pioneer in cell therapy innovation. The company has developed transformative treatments including YESCARTA and TECARTUS, which have demonstrated remarkable efficacy against certain lymphoma variants. To date, more than 32,000 patients worldwide have received Kite’s CAR T-cell therapies through over 555 authorized treatment centers. Within the UAE, the company currently maintains two approved CAR T-cell therapies across four medical indications.
Alia Abdel-Razeq, Chief Operating Officer of CellSave Arabia, emphasized the patient-centric nature of this collaboration. “Our fundamental mission revolves around placing patients at the core of every innovation we pursue,” she stated. “This partnership enables us to support lymphoma patients with unprecedented levels of precision, safety, and care while maintaining the highest preservation standards for cellular materials.”
Eslam Khedr, Head of Oncology Regional Headquarters for Gilead and Kite Middle East, highlighted the individualized nature of CAR T therapy. “This approach represents a truly personalized treatment modality with curative intent for patients confronting difficult-to-treat blood cancers,” Khedr explained. “Meeting patient and healthcare professional needs requires robust treatment delivery infrastructure, which we’ve developed through one of the world’s most extensive in-house manufacturing networks.”
This collaboration underscores the UAE’s emerging role as a regional hub for next-generation biomedical innovation and scientific collaboration. By combining CellSave Arabia’s specialized biobanking expertise with Gilead and Kite’s therapeutic leadership, the partnership aims to streamline treatment pathways, enhance accessibility to advanced cancer therapies, and ultimately improve outcomes for patients battling hematological malignancies across the Middle East.