The UAE has reached a landmark moment in pharmaceutical innovation, announcing the country's first fully AI-discovered and developed drug candidate, marking a shift from technology adoption to homegrown, knowledge-based drug development.
The compound, ISM0387, was developed by Insilico Medicine in partnership with the Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE). It is an advanced inhibitor targeting the PRMT5 enzyme, designed to selectively attack cancer cells linked to MTAP gene deletion while leaving healthy cells largely unaffected. The candidate shows particular promise against aggressive brain tumours, which rank among the hardest cancers to treat.
Preclinical studies demonstrated clear tumour suppression at a daily dose of 30 mg/kg over 20 days in animal models, with the compound also exhibiting strong penetration of the blood-brain barrier.
The entire discovery pipeline, from biological target identification and molecular design to preclinical candidate nomination, was completed within the UAE in under 12 months. Using Insilico Medicine's Chemistry42 platform, which draws on more than 40 generative AI models, the research team screened and tested over 90 potential molecules in roughly six months. Traditionally, that phase alone takes upwards of four years, and full drug development can exceed a decade and cost over $1 billion.
Saeed bin Mubarak Al Hajeri, Minister of State and Chairman of EDE, said the milestone positions the UAE as an active contributor to global biotech value chains rather than a passive adopter.
Dr. Fatima Al Kaabi, Director-General of EDE, described the achievement as a sign of the country's growing capacity to develop medicines locally, reframing pharmaceutical security from supply assurance to sovereign development capability.
The milestone is expected to open pathways for more targeted treatment options for patients while reinforcing the UAE's standing as a hub for AI-driven pharmaceutical innovation.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
