Abu Dhabi healthcare provider helps fund UK drug trial for diabetes patients

Mubadala Healthcare will support research for a drug to help high-risk patients who catch the virus

Covid-19 safety measures are in place at Times Square Centre in Dubai. All pictures by Chris Whiteoak / The National

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A major Abu Dhabi healthcare provider will partly fund a UK drug trial that could help diabetic patients with Covid-19 to fight off the virus.

Mubadala Healthcare – which includes Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi Telemedicine Centre in its network – has pledged key investment to the approved tests of an immune-suppressant drug being carried out in the UK.

The trial, known as Arcadia, follows preclinical research suggesting a glucose kinase activator could help diabetes patients with Covid-19 by limiting the overactive response of the immune system that is typically acute in those patients with raised blood glucose levels.

The trial got under way in late September and involves patients with mild to moderate Covid-19 symptoms.

At a coronavirus briefing in June, Dr Amna Al Shamsi, official spokeswoman for the UAE government, revealed that 40 per cent of Covid-19 deaths in the country were linked to diabetes and urged the public to pay more attention to groups at risk.

According to the International Diabetes Federation, 18 per cent of the UAE population has diabetes.

If found to be successful, the drug could eventually be prescribed to diabetic patients displaying early symptoms of coronavirus.

"We are delighted to be involved in this collaboration as it has great potential benefit for the UAE," said Abdulla Al Shamsi, head of Mubadala Healthcare.

"There are more than one million people living with diabetes in our country, and this group is identified as being particularly vulnerable to the effects of Covid-19.

"This investment is one of many Mubadala Healthcare is making to enable the UAE government and population to mitigate the effects of the disease, and provide the resources needed to support local and international efforts that will lead to solutions for this pandemic.”

The level of funding provided by Mubadala Healthcare was not revealed.

Medical experts have consistently cautioned throughout the outbreak that Covid-19 poses a particularly high risk to those with diabetes.

The American Diabetes Association said patients infected with Covid-19 are likely to be harder hit by the virus than those without underlying health conditions.

"People with diabetes are more likely to have serious complications from Covid-19," the organisation said.

"In general, people with diabetes are more likely to have more severe symptoms and complications when infected with any virus."

The compound used in the UK research was initially developed by pharmaceuticals giant AztraZeneca for another purpose, but UK biomedical research charity St George Street Capital Limited (SGS) discovered its immune-dampening effects.

As a result, agreements were signed whereby SGS has the right to conduct the clinical trials.

The trial will be conducted by Excalibur Medicines Limited, Mubadala Healthcare, several private partners, and the UK Government.

“The funding from Mubadala Healthcare and our other partners will allow us to fast-track this research," said Excalibur founder Prof Sir Chris Evans.

"All of us supporting this trial recognise this drug has the potential to make a huge difference to people with diabetes who are unfortunate enough to contract coronavirus and we foresee a significant impact on the level of fatalities in the future.

"Treatments such as this could be vital as we are likely to be living with this virus for some time to come.”