Arcera Life Sciences (Arcera), a global life sciences company headquartered in Abu Dhabi, has announced the signing of a strategic MoU with ISPOR UAE Chapter to advance healthcare innovation in the UAE and the launch of a breakthrough intravenous antibiotic to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This marks a major milestone in Arcera’s mission to enable patient access to innovative therapies and improve healthcare outcomes.
AMR is classified by the World Health Organisation as a top global public health threat. In 2021 alone, an estimated 1.14 million deaths were directly attributed to bacterial AMR. Without urgent intervention, a cumulative 39 million deaths directly linked to bacterial AMR are forecast globally over the next 25 years — the equivalent of around three deaths every minute. Global economic forecasts by the World Bank also indicate that rising AMR could contribute up to US$3.4 trillion in annual global GDP losses by 2030 due to healthcare costs, productivity loss and economic disruption. In the Eastern Mediterranean Region, there were 380,000 deaths associated with AMR and around 92,800 deaths directly attributable to AMR in 2021.
Arcera is taking decisive action to address the challenge posed by AMR. The company is introducing a breakthrough intravenous antibiotic that restores efficacy against multidrug-resistant bacteria, including Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL)-producing pathogens, offering physicians a new treatment option. The innovative therapy aligns with the UAE’s national antimicrobial stewardship programmes aimed at preserving last-line medical agents. Arcera has significantly advanced efforts to secure regulatory approval and prepare for the launch of the antibiotic across the GCC, while also progressing registration plans for South Africa, where regulatory approval is expected in early 2027, reinforcing its commitment to improving patient outcomes and ensuring timely access to life-saving therapies.
Accelerating innovation across the UAE’s healthcare sector
To advance its mission of enabling access to innovative therapies, Arcera has signed a strategic MoU with ISPOR UAE Chapter, the leading professional society for health economics and outcomes research globally, at the ISPOR UAE Chapter 2026 Conference.
The agreement establishes a strategic framework for cooperation between the two organisations, focused on advancing health economics and outcomes research and health technology assessment in the UAE. Through this partnership, Arcera and ISPOR UAE Chapter will work together to enhance research capabilities, build national expertise and support evidence-based decision-making.
The MoU reflects a shared commitment to strengthening healthcare policy, improving patient access to innovative therapies and supporting the UAE’s ambition to become a global leader in healthcare excellence and life sciences. Under the agreement, Arcera and ISPOR UAE Chapter will also collaborate to promote capacity building, career development and mentorship.
Speaking at the signing, Isabel Afonso, Chief Executive Officer of Arcera Life Sciences, said: “Building future-ready healthcare systems requires trusted partnerships and the right policy frameworks to translate science into real-world impact. This partnership with ISPOR UAE Chapter reflects our shared commitment to advancing health economics, outcomes research and health technology assessment in the UAE. Together, we aim to strengthen decision-making, support sustainable healthcare investment and ensure that patients receive timely access to advanced treatments.”
Professor Nadia Al Mazrouei, ISPOR UAE Chapter President, said: “We are pleased to welcome Arcera as a strategic partner in our mission to improve healthcare decision-making. The UAE is a rapidly evolving market for health technology and by combining ISPOR UAE Chapter’s global network and resources with Arcera’s regional leadership, we can more effectively address the unique challenges of this landscape and promote excellence in research and policy.”
