Investcorp supports Middle East’s first CAR-T therapy center through a Chinese healthcare partnership

BAHRAIN—Investcorp, a global alternative investment firm, has announced a groundbreaking healthcare partnership that will bring advanced cancer treatment to the Middle East for the first time.

Lu Daopei Medical (LDP), a portfolio company of the Investcorp China Pre-IPO Healthcare Fund, has joined forces with Turkey’s Florence Nightingale Hospital Group to establish the region’s first dedicated CAR-T stem cell therapy center.

The facility will focus on treating severe leukemia cases, including those affecting children.

Bringing Chinese innovation to the Middle East

The partnership introduces CAR-T (Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell) therapy to the MENA region, a cutting-edge treatment developed and refined in China.

This advanced immunotherapy works by modifying a patient’s own immune cells to better identify and destroy cancer cells.

The highly personalized treatment has demonstrated promising outcomes for certain aggressive blood cancers.

It offers hope to patients, especially children, who have not responded to conventional treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and bone marrow transplantation.

LDP’s expertise and expansion plans

Dr. Lu Daopei, a renowned hematology expert, founded LDP in 2001.

Since then, the organization has evolved into one of China’s largest specialist hematology hospital groups.

The company has developed deep expertise in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, CAR-T therapies, and complex blood disorders.

The new center will have the capacity to perform up to 200 CAR-T treatments each year.

LDP plans to expand its services beyond leukemia into broader oncology applications as the partnership matures.

Leadership commitment to healthcare innovation

Mohammed Alardhi, Executive Chairman of Investcorp, expressed pride in supporting this transformative partnership.

He emphasized that the initiative reflects the firm’s commitment to backing innovative healthcare companies that deliver meaningful impact by expanding access to cutting-edge treatment options for patients who need them most.

Duncan Zheng, Head of Investcorp China and Deputy Head of Emerging Markets Private Equity, highlighted the significance of cross-border collaboration.

He noted that the center’s launch demonstrates their ability to support portfolio companies in transferring proven clinical innovation into new markets.

Zheng sees significant potential to further expand access to these therapies across the region as demand for specialized oncology care continues to grow.

Regional impact and future growth

Investcorp continues to support LDP’s broader international growth strategy.

The firm is identifying additional partners to extend access to these therapies across the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, while LDP pursues continued expansion into Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Central Asia.

The establishment of the CAR-T center strengthens regional healthcare infrastructure and reduces the need for patients to travel abroad for treatment.

The facility positions the Middle East as an emerging hub for next-generation cell therapy and oncology care.