Arcera Life Sciences partners with ISPOR UAE to combat the antimicrobial resistance crisis

UAE—Arcera Life Sciences, a global life sciences company headquartered in Abu Dhabi, has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding with ISPOR UAE Chapter to advance healthcare innovation across the Emirates.

The partnership coincides with the launch of a groundbreaking intravenous antibiotic designed to fight Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), marking a significant step forward in the company’s mission to deliver innovative therapies to patients while improving healthcare outcomes.

A growing global threat

The World Health Organization ranks antimicrobial resistance as one of the most pressing global public health threats facing humanity today.

In 2021 alone, bacterial AMR directly caused 1.14 million deaths worldwide. Without immediate intervention, experts forecast that bacterial AMR will claim 39 million lives over the next 25 years—roughly equivalent to three deaths every minute.

Beyond the human toll, the economic impact threatens to destabilize healthcare systems globally.

The World Bank projects that rising AMR could result in up to USD3.4 trillion in annual global GDP losses by 2030, driven by escalating healthcare costs, reduced productivity, and widespread economic disruption.

The Eastern Mediterranean Region faces particularly alarming statistics, with 380,000 deaths associated with AMR and approximately 92,800 deaths directly attributable to resistant infections in 2021 alone.

Introducing a new treatment option

Arcera is responding decisively to this challenge by introducing an innovative intravenous antibiotic that restores effectiveness against multidrug-resistant bacteria.

The therapy specifically targets Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL)-producing pathogens, providing physicians with a crucial new tool in their treatment arsenal.

This breakthrough aligns seamlessly with the UAE’s national antimicrobial stewardship programs, which aim to preserve last-line medical agents for future generations.

The company has made substantial progress toward securing regulatory approval and preparing for the launch of the antibiotic across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

Additionally, Arcera is advancing registration plans for South Africa, where regulatory approval is anticipated in early 2027, demonstrating its commitment to improving patient outcomes and ensuring timely access to life-saving therapies across multiple markets.

Strategic partnership for healthcare excellence

To strengthen its mission of enabling access to innovative therapies, Arcera formalised its partnership with the ISPOR UAE Chapter at the organisation’s 2026 Conference.

ISPOR serves as the leading professional society for health economics and outcomes research globally, bringing valuable expertise and networks to the collaboration.

The agreement establishes a comprehensive framework for cooperation between both organizations, focusing on advancing health economics and outcomes research (HEOR) and health technology assessment (HTA) throughout the UAE.

Through this partnership, Arcera and the ISPOR UAE Chapter will enhance research capabilities, build national expertise, and support evidence-based decision-making processes.

The memorandum reflects both organizations’ shared commitment to strengthening healthcare policy, improving patient access to innovative therapies, and supporting the UAE’s ambition to become a global leader in healthcare excellence and life sciences innovation.

Leadership perspectives

Isabel Afonso, CEO of Arcera Life Sciences, emphasized that developing future-ready healthcare systems necessitates trusted partnerships and appropriate policy frameworks for translating scientific advances into real-world impact.

She explained that the partnership with the ISPOR UAE Chapter reflects their shared commitment to advancing health economics, outcomes research, and health technology assessment in the UAE.

Together, they aim to strengthen decision-making, support sustainable healthcare investment, and ensure patients receive timely access to advanced treatments.

Prof. Nadia Al Mazrouei, president of the ISPOR UAE Chapter, welcomed Arcera as a strategic partner in its mission to improve healthcare decision-making.

She noted that the UAE represents a rapidly evolving market for health technology, and by combining ISPOR UAE Chapter’s global network and resources with Arcera’s regional leadership, they can more effectively address the unique challenges of this landscape while promoting excellence in research and policy.

Shaping Future Healthcare Policy

As part of the conference program, Isabel Afonso participated in a high-level panel discussion titled “Securing the Future: Policies to Strengthen Healthcare for the Next Generation in the Middle East and Africa Region.”

The session brought together distinguished global experts, including Prof. Jeonghoon Ahn, Professor at Ewha Womans University and Associate Fellow at South Korea’s National Evidence-based Healthcare Collaborating Agency; Prof. Nadia Al Mazrouei; Dr. Omar Dabbous, Chief Medical Officer at USA’s Access Forum Ensuring Equitable Access in a Constrained World; Mr. Pedro Matos Rosa, Managing Director of Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine GULF; and Dr. Shaikha Al Mazrouei, Director of Reference National Laboratory at Emirates Drug Establishment.

The dialogue centered on creating robust policy frameworks that promote innovation while ensuring long-term system sustainability, closely aligning with Arcera’s vision of establishing a resilient, patient-centric healthcare ecosystem that serves communities across the region.