Muscat: Acting in cooperation with the College of Medicine and Health Sciences at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), the National Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplant Center at the University Medical City (UMC) today performed the first therapy with CAR-T cells that were fully assembled and engineered within national laboratories in the Sultanate of Oman. The therapy marks a significant medical advancement in the rapid development of hematology and cancer treatment services in Oman.
According to Oman News Agency, CAR-T cell therapy has emerged as one of the latest advanced treatments for blood cancers. This therapy involves the genetic modification of a patient's own immune T-cells to enable them to recognize and precisely target cancer cells. The process begins by collecting immune cells from a patient's blood using apheresis, modifying the cells in specialized laboratories, and then reinjecting them back into the patient's body.
Dr. Ibrahim bin Mohammed Al Nabhani, Assistant Professor at the College of Medicine and Health Sciences at SQU and Consultant Hematologist at the National Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplant Center, UMC, highlighted that this achievement represents an important milestone in advancing cell therapy programs in Oman. He emphasized that the successful implementation of the first treatment with locally collected T-cells reflects the advanced status of the medical system, showcasing the readiness of infrastructure and the growth of national expertise in the fields of hematology and stem cell transplantation.
Dr. Ibrahim further noted that the success of this therapy opens up broader prospects for expanding the application of such advanced technologies within Oman, allowing patients to benefit from treatments that adhere to professional medical practices and global standards. He stressed that implementing this type of treatment requires careful coordination among multidisciplinary teams, including hematologists, specialists in stem cell laboratory units, apheresis units, clinical pharmacy, and specialized nursing teams.
Dr. Khalil bin Saleh Al Farsi, Head of the National Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplant Center at UMC, remarked that the success of these initial cases is a landmark achievement in localizing advanced treatments in Oman. He stated that this achievement reaffirms the efficiency of national cadres in adopting advanced treatment technologies and represents a step forward in developing an integrated T-cells therapy program at the National Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplant Center.
Dr. Khalil added that introducing this type of treatment would provide modern treatment options for patients within Oman, eliminating the need for them to travel abroad for treatment, and consolidating Oman's status as an advanced regional hub for therapies in the field of blood diseases. This achievement is part of UMC's ongoing efforts to enhance partnerships with national institutions, localize the latest treatment technologies, empower national talents in advanced treatment technologies, and contribute to improving the quality of healthcare in Oman.