ADCAN Pharma and M42 Sign Deal on Cancer Drug Packaging and Clinical Trials in the UAE

The agreement, signed at the Abu Dhabi Future Health Summit 2026, is part of the UAE's effort to build a domestic life sciences industry that can supply export markets rather than relying on imported finished drugs. It links a local manufacturer with M42's clinical research arm, so that trials and production can be run in the same place.

Under the MoU, the two companies will look at contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) work through Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, the research-led drugmaker. The first focus is secondary packaging, meaning the labelling and packing of finished medicines for each market, along with export-oriented supply. Glenmark has completed a quality audit of ADCAN Pharma's manufacturing facility, which the companies described as an important step toward moving the project forward.

The next phase is meant to help register an advanced oncology product in the UAE based on an antibody-drug conjugate, a targeted therapy that attaches a cancer-killing drug to an antibody so that it is delivered directly to tumour cells. Batch release for key export markets could follow, subject to regulatory approvals. The companies did not name the product or give a timeline.

ADCAN Pharma will also support clinical trials run by IROS, M42's contract research organisation. The companies did not disclose any financial terms.

Dr Fokion Sinis, ADCAN Pharma's chief executive, said the company aims to expand by concentrating on specialised oncology products and its local manufacturing capacity. Dr David Kavanagh, acting chief operating officer of M42's Integrated Health Solutions, said that turning scientific discovery into treatments "depends on clinical research and pharmaceutical manufacturing working closely together," and that IROS is building the capabilities to position Abu Dhabi as a partner for companies developing advanced therapies.

Hamdan Mohamed AlDahmani, ADCAN Pharma's chairman, called the partnership an important step in developing advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing in the UAE.

The agreement is a memorandum to explore cooperation rather than a binding contract. Its next milestone is the UAE registration of the antibody-drug conjugate product, which the companies have not yet dated.