FIRST PATIENT SITE OPENS: Burjeel Cancer Institute at Burjeel Medical City Launches World’s First Clinical Site for BioSapien’s MediChip™ Chemotherapy Platform
Burjeel Cancer Institute in Abu Dhabi has opened the world’s first clinical site for BioSapien’s MediChip, a biodegradable implant delivering chemotherapy directly to tumors. Its Phase I trial will evaluate safety in localized rectal cancer, exploring potential reductions in systemic exposure and treatment-related complications.
-- Announced at Abu Dhabi Health Summit Burjeel Cancer Institute at Burjeel Medical City (BMC) becomes the first clinical site in the world to open for MediChip™-5-FU, BioSapien’s localized chemotherapy platform. Starting Friday 23 October, investigators will screen patients with localized rectal cancer for OPTIMISE-REFORM, BioSapien’s Phase I trial. It is the first trial of its kind in the Middle East.
All regulatory and ethics approvals are in place. The first patients are expected to enroll shortly after opening.
Image courtesy of BioSapiens. Left to Right: Dr. Yvanka Gilliam Head of Medical Affairs BioSapien, Noor Mahmoud Associate Director BioSapien, Dr. Khatija Ali CEO BioSapien, Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil Chairman and CEO Burjeel Holdings, Dr. Khaled Musallam Chief Research Officer Burjeel Holdings, Dr. Ibrahim Husni Moh’D Abu Gheida - Chief Medical Officer Burjeel Can
Why it matters
- First in the world: Burjeel Cancer Institute at BMC is the first clinical site anywhere to treat patients with MediChip™.
- First in the region: This is the Middle East’s first trial of a localized platform that delivers chemotherapy directly to the tumor.
- World-class oversight: The trial is guided by an independent review committee of leading US oncology experts.
- Abu Dhabi first: Patients here get access to a new approach to cancer treatment before anyone else.
Chemotherapy, delivered where it’s needed
MediChip™-5-FU is biodegradable and 3D-printed, and it is placed at the tumor site. There it gradually releases 5-fluorouracil, one of the most widely used chemotherapy drugs. More drug reaches the tumour and less reaches the rest of the body. The goal is to improve quality of life during treatment and, in time, to help some patients avoid life-altering surgery.
Led by a regional pioneer in targeted chemotherapy
The Principal Investigator is Dr. Mohammad Adileh, Director of the Surgical Oncology Division at Burjeel Cancer Institute and Head of General Surgery at BMC. He built the Middle East’s first Hepatic Artery Infusion Program, a regional first in targeted chemotherapy delivery. He trained in surgical oncology, complex colorectal surgery and robotics at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York.
Dr. Adileh said: “Delivering chemotherapy directly to the tumor represents an exciting shift towards more precise and potentially less toxic cancer treatment. For patients with rectal cancer, this approach could offer an opportunity to improve treatment effectiveness while reducing systemic exposure and, ultimately, the need for life-altering surgery. As the first clinical team worldwide to evaluate MediChip in patients, we are excited to investigate its safety and potential to transform how we treat localized cancers.”
Overseen by leading US cancer experts
OPTIMISE-REFORM is guided by an Independent Review Committee chaired by Dr. Eileen O’Reilly of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, one of the world’s leading gastrointestinal oncologists. Committee members include:
- Dr. Wen Wee Ma, Cleveland Clinic
- Dr. Emre Gorgun, Cleveland Clinic
- Dr. Michael White, MD Anderson Cancer Center
- Dr. Vaiva Deltuvaite-Thomas, Principal Statistical Scientist, IDDI
Prof. Humaid Al-Shamsi, CEO of Burjeel Cancer Institute and President of the Emirates Oncology Society - a colorectal oncology expert and previously a GI medical oncologist at MD Anderson Cancer Center, said:
“Colorectal cancer represents a significant and growing health burden in the UAE, with the increasing recognition of cases among younger adults adding to the urgency of addressing this disease. Expanding access to innovative treatment options is essential, particularly for rectal cancer, where treatment can have lifelong implications for patients’ quality of life. Our priority is to offer patients more effective, less invasive options while preserving function and improving long-term outcomes.”
Prof. Khaled Musallam, Group Chief Research Officer at Burjeel Holdings and Deputy CEO of Burjeel Cancer Institute, said:
“This milestone reflects our ambition to position Abu Dhabi not simply as a participant in global clinical research, but as a destination where breakthrough therapies are developed and introduced to patients for the first time. By bringing the world's first clinical site for MediChip to Burjeel Cancer Institute at Burjeel Medical City, we are demonstrating how strong clinical expertise, advanced research infrastructure, and strategic biotechnology partnerships can accelerate the translation of innovation into patient care. Our goal is to ensure that patients in the UAE are at the forefront of medical progress, not waiting for innovations developed elsewhere.”
Dr. Khatija Ali, CEO and Founder of BioSapien, said:
“Today MediChip stops being an idea and starts being a treatment option. We built it to change how chemotherapy reaches a tumor, so patients can live better during treatment and some may be spared life-altering surgery. Burjeel Cancer Institute at Burjeel Medical City is the right first home for it: deep clinical expertise, strong research infrastructure, and a shared belief that patients in this region deserve new treatments first, not last.”
Building Abu Dhabi’s life sciences future
The trial deepens BioSapien’s long-term clinical partnership in the UAE and supports Abu Dhabi’s drive to become a global center for life sciences R&D. For eligibility information, clinicians and patients can contact Burjeel Cancer Institute at BMC at [email protected].
About Burjeel Cancer Institute
Burjeel Cancer Institute (BCI), at Burjeel Medical City (BMC) in Abu Dhabi, is the UAE’s largest cancer care network and the fastest-growing in the region, with a presence spanning Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai, Sharjah, and the Sultanate of Oman. The Institute provides comprehensive and advanced oncology services through multidisciplinary teams of highly experienced consultants and specialists, supported by advanced diagnostic and treatment technologies aligned with international standards of care.
With a strong focus on clinical research, early detection, and patient-centered multidisciplinary care, BCI has also been designated a Center of Excellence for breast cancer care by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi. Through its expanding network and integrated approach to cancer care, the Institute continues to strengthen its position as a regional destination for specialized and complex cancer treatment.
About BioSapien
BioSapien is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing MediChip™, its flagship localized drug delivery platform. Founded in 2018 and based in San Diego, California, BioSapien holds global patents on the platform.
Contact Info:
Name: Dr. Khatija Ali
Email: Send Email
Organization: BioSapien
Website: https://www.biosapien.com
Release ID: 89206845