Abu Dhabi CRO IROS advances precision oncology with BioSapien partnership

UAE—IROS, an Abu Dhabi-based contract research organisation operating under the M42 Group, has joined forces with BioSapien, a pioneering biotechnology company, to conduct a revolutionary oncology clinical trial in the UAE capital.

The collaboration brings together IROS’s clinical research expertise with BioSapien’s innovative cancer treatment technology to advance precision medicine in the region.

The partnership will launch a six-month interventional trial scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2026.

IROS will serve as the primary service provider throughout the study, bringing its comprehensive capabilities as a full-service clinical research organisation to ensure rigorous trial execution and oversight.

The research will specifically target patients suffering from lower gastrointestinal cancers, addressing a significant medical need in the oncology field.

At the heart of this clinical trial lies BioSapien’s revolutionary MediChip™ platform, which represents a significant departure from traditional cancer treatment methods.

This innovative technology delivers chemotherapy through a localised approach rather than systemically throughout the entire body.

The localised delivery method aims to concentrate treatment precisely where it is needed while minimizing the widespread distribution of chemotherapy drugs that typically causes severe side effects in cancer patients.

Preclinical models have demonstrated promising results for this targeted treatment approach.

The MediChip™ platform has shown the potential to reduce systemic side effects associated with conventional chemotherapy by up to 50 percent.

This reduction could translate into meaningful improvements in quality of life for patients undergoing cancer treatment, as many individuals currently experience debilitating side effects that impact their daily activities and overall wellbeing.

Beyond reducing side effects, the platform is designed to enhance overall patient outcomes, potentially improving treatment effectiveness while making the cancer therapy experience more tolerable.

Islam Eltantawy, General Manager of IROS, emphasized the significance of this collaboration for both the organisation and the broader Abu Dhabi healthcare ecosystem.

He noted that the partnership reflects IROS’s capabilities in delivering complex, high-impact clinical studies that push the boundaries of medical science.

The trial also demonstrates the organisation’s dedication to advancing precision medicine approaches that tailor treatments to individual patient needs rather than applying one-size-fits-all solutions.

Eltantawy further highlighted how this work positions Abu Dhabi as an emerging leader in global clinical research, attracting innovative studies that contribute to worldwide medical advancement.

Dr. Khatija Ali, CEO of BioSapien, shared her perspective on what this partnership represents for cancer treatment innovation.

She explained that the collaboration accelerates BioSapien’s core mission to fundamentally transform how chemotherapy is delivered to patients.

Ali also pointed to the broader implications for the UAE’s biotechnology sector, noting that this trial exemplifies the country’s growing leadership in fostering cutting-edge biotech innovation.

The partnership creates a framework where precision medicine becomes both globally impactful through shared research findings and locally accessible to patients in the region who can benefit from these advanced treatments.