BioTiqania and GAME drive Success of Free Zone for Life Sciences Industry
DUBAI: 28 February, 2008 - Dubai Biotechnology and Research Park (DuBiotech), a member of TECOM Investments, today announced it has achieved major milestones within three years of its inception, launching significant initiatives such as the BioTiqania subsidiary and Gulf Anti-doping and Monitoring Enterprise (GAME) as part of its efforts to evolve as a global hub for the life sciences industry.
Addressing business partners and associates at a dinner reception hosted to commemorate its third anniversary, Dr. Abdulqader Alkhayat, Executive Director, DuBiotech, emphasized the free zone's contribution to the industry as an incubator for researchers as well as scientists, while serving as the centre for production, creativity and development.
Dedicated to creating an advanced technical and community infrastructure for the life sciences industry in the region, the biotech park early this year unveiled BioTiqania, a world class training institute for scientific and industrial disciplines. It also launched the Gulf Anti-doping and Monitoring Enterprise (GAME), a pioneering laboratory dedicated to conducting anti-doping measures for professional and amateur athletes in the UAE.
Dr. Alkhayat said: "We are pleased to confirm that Dubiotech has successfully arrived at a stage for laying down the framework to facilitate excellence in biotechnology. Since our launch in 2005, we have achieved considerable growth in promoting the industry, with 35 companies and more in the process of receiving their licenses. This is in addition to the upcoming projects that will be announced by the end of this year."
Some business partners have acknowledged DuBiotech's contribution to the industry as well as to their operations in the region.
Ashraf Allam, Regional Managing Director for Middle East, Africa and Turkey for Amgen, the global biotechnology leader, said: "We are extremely grateful for the support that Dubiotech has extended in order to raise Amgen's profile in the region. Over the last two years, we have achieved a remarkable growth of more than 100 per cent, with Amgen Middle East rising as one of the key growth areas among the company's international emerging markets."
Last year, NeoBiocon Ltd, a joint venture between an Indian biotechnology giant Biocon Ltd and the Abu Dhabi based pharmaceutical manufacturer NeoPharma, set up its regional headquarters at DuBiotech.
Sumit Bhanot, Operations and Marketing Head for NeoBiocon, said: "NeoBiocon was established with a vision to provide affordable biotherapeutics and educate the public on the debilitating effects of lifestyle-related diseases. DuBiotech has successfully created a conducive environment, helping companies such as ours to deliver world class biotech products that meet the medical requirements of the region."
DuBiotech aims to provide the necessary infrastructure not only to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, but for all entities involved in the life sciences industry, including the agricultural, environmental, and marine biotechnology sectors. Bridging research, education and industry through national and international collaboration, the research park is working closely with the UAE Ministry of Health, the Dubai Health Authority, and other regulatory bodies to further develop the life sciences industry in the country.
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About DuBiotech
Announced in February 2005, the Dubai Biotechnology and Research Park (DuBiotech) is a science and business park dedicated to the biotechnology industry, set within a 'free zone'. DuBiotech has two arms. The first is the Foundation for Research and Innovation (FRI) that will initially focus on government-funded R&D in medicine and genetics, plant biotechnology encompassing food and agricultural biotech, environmental biotech and equine-related biotechnology. Other areas include drug discovery, stem cell research, infectious diseases and forensic research. The second arm of DuBiotech aims to set up a biotechnology industry cluster with cutting-edge infrastructure, facilities and services for incubators, R&D labs, biotech-related educational institutions, suppliers, biotech-related manufacturing companies and organizations from other sectors in the industry. DuBiotech is advised by an independent steering committee on scientific, business and ethical matters. In cooperation with global research leader, RTI International, DuBiotech is developing comprehensive regulations that address all aspects of biotech activity. Being in a 'free zone' means biotechnology firms in the park have 100 % exemption from any form of taxation for 50 years, 100 % business ownership and 100 % repatriation of capital.
For further information, please call:
Zeba Ahmad
JiWiN
The Exclusive Middle East Affiliate of Burson-Marsteller
Tel: +9714 361 3590 (direct)
+9714 361 3333 (switchboard)
Fax: +9714 388 8001
e-mail: Zeba.Ahmad@jiwin.ae
Cynthia Luna-Harb
JiWiN
The Exclusive Middle East Affiliate of Burson-Marsteller
Tel: +9714 375 5878 (direct)
+9714 361 3333 (switchboard)
Fax: +9714 388 8001
e-mail: Cynthia.Luna@jiwin.ae
© Press Release 2008
