M42‘s Insights Research Organization and Solutions (IROS), in collaboration with the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) and Halia Therapeutics, a US-based clinical-stage biotechnology company, has launched the UAE’s first genomics-driven clinical trial, marking a major step in translating the Emirati Genome Programme (EGP) into real-world clinical application.

The study will use population-scale genomic data from the EGP to identify individuals who may meet the study criteria related to Alzheimer’s disease before symptoms appear, supporting research linked to earlier intervention and supporting a shift toward prevention-focused care. After the screening process and genetic counseling, the trial will evaluate HT-4253, Halia Therapeutics’ investigational therapy, in asymptomatic individuals who carry the APOE4 gene variant, a major genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease.

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The DoH has provided regulatory oversight for this initiative, ensuring the responsible and ethical use of data from the Emirati Genome Programme. All activities are conducted in full compliance with applicable data protection and patient privacy regulations.

Her Excellency Dr. Noura Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), said: “The Emirati Genome Programme is a strategic national asset that is transforming how we understand, prevent and treat disease, and is a reflection of the UAE’s vision to harness genomics in building a more precise, proactive and prevention-focused healthcare system.”

Alzheimer’s disease is one of the world’s most pressing health challenges, affecting more than 55 million people globally; a number expected to nearly triple by 2050. Despite decades of research, no disease-modifying prevention therapy is currently approved.

The ability to deliver this trial is underpinned by the strength of the EGP, which has sequenced more than 900,000 genomes, making it one of the largest and most distinctive national genomic resources globally.

Albarah El-Khani, Chief Operating Officer, Integrated Health Solutions, M42, said: “Combining one of the most comprehensive national genomic datasets in the world with Halia Therapeutics’ investigational therapy and M42’s integrated clinical and data infrastructure allows us to identify APOE4 carriers at population scale, with clinical linkage, in a population that is systematically underrepresented in global research. That is not a marginal advantage, it is a structural one.”

The trial will take place in Abu Dhabi, led by IROS, with clinical data linkage enabled by Malaffi, Abu Dhabi’s longitudinal health information exchange.

David Kavanagh, Interim General Manager, IROS, said, “This trial represents the clinical translation of a decade of genomic investment in the UAE. The Emirati Genome Programme was built to improve health outcomes, and today we are translating that data into real-world clinical research. IROS was established to enable precisely these types of biomarker-driven, prevention-oriented trials, and this marks an important first step.”

Dave Bearss, Ph.D., President, CEO & Co-Founder, Halia Therapeutics, said: “Halia’s approach to drug discovery is built on genetic resilience, identifying the biological mechanisms that protect certain individuals from disease, even in the presence of high-risk genotypes. The Emirati Genome Programme and M42’s integrated clinical and data infrastructure give us the tools to translate that science directly into a prevention-focused clinical trial. We are not waiting for disease to appear. We are acting at the moment when intervention can matter most, and the Emirati Genome Programme gives us a population-scale platform to do so. That is why we have established a presence in Abu Dhabi, and we are excited to show the world what the future can look like when we use these tools to focus on early intervention in high-risk populations.”

In addition to its collaboration with the DoH and IROS on the clinical trial, Halia Therapeutics has also announced the establishment of an office in Abu Dhabi, reflecting the emirate’s growing position as a destination for global biotech companies seeking to advance genomically informed research.

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