emirates7 - The Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to boost collaboration in pharmaceutical production and medical product development.
Signed in Korea, the MoU focuses on sharing expertise between the UAE and Korea in areas such as drug regulation, best practices, clinical trials, and pharmacovigilance, ensuring adherence to top-tier quality and safety standards for medical products.
The agreement was formalized by Dr. Fatima Mohammed Al Kaabi, Director-General of the Emirates Drug Establishment, and Joon-Su Shin, General Director at the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, with officials from both countries present at the signing.
A key aspect of the MoU is the creation of a fast-track approval process for pharmaceutical products already approved by international regulatory bodies, such as those in the European Union, the United States, and Japan. This aims to accelerate the registration of new pharmaceutical products in both countries, reducing the time needed for new treatments to reach patients and ensuring faster access to innovative medical solutions.
The agreement also enhances post-marketing surveillance systems to identify any potential safety or quality concerns with medical products. It includes the development of early warning systems to detect counterfeit or defective products, enabling swift action to protect public health.
Additionally, the MoU encourages the exchange of research outcomes from clinical and non-clinical trials between the two nations, fostering collaboration in drug development. This includes joint efforts to develop innovative biomedical drugs that meet the needs of both communities.
Furthermore, the agreement provides for mutual training programs aimed at improving the skills of professionals in the pharmaceutical sector. It also promotes regular field visits to pharmaceutical facilities in both countries to exchange knowledge and technological expertise, with a focus on adhering to Good Clinical Practices (GCP) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), ensuring international standards are maintained throughout the production and distribution process.
The MoU also aims to strengthen research and development cooperation by forming joint task forces to evaluate biological products and advanced medical technologies. The exchange of cutting-edge technologies and the creation of strategies to manage innovative medical products, including biopharmaceuticals and invasive medical devices, will promote greater innovation in the pharmaceutical and medical sectors.
In addition, the agreement will see the organisation of joint scientific conferences and workshops to advance knowledge sharing and enhance research and technological capabilities in areas of mutual interest.
Dr. Fatima Al Kaabi highlighted that the MoU serves as a strategic framework for advancing health and pharmaceutical collaboration between the two countries. It supports innovation, improves access to modern medicines, and enhances regulatory systems to ensure the safety of medical products. The agreement aligns with the EDE’s strategy to strengthen the health sector and expand international partnerships, consistent with the vision of the UAE's leadership to promote cooperation across key industries.
She added that the EDE is committed to further integration with global partners to provide innovative and safe medical products that improve community well-being. The MoU also facilitates the exchange of research findings, as well as the organisation of field visits and training programs to boost the expertise of professionals in the pharmaceutical field.
Signed in Korea, the MoU focuses on sharing expertise between the UAE and Korea in areas such as drug regulation, best practices, clinical trials, and pharmacovigilance, ensuring adherence to top-tier quality and safety standards for medical products.
The agreement was formalized by Dr. Fatima Mohammed Al Kaabi, Director-General of the Emirates Drug Establishment, and Joon-Su Shin, General Director at the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, with officials from both countries present at the signing.
A key aspect of the MoU is the creation of a fast-track approval process for pharmaceutical products already approved by international regulatory bodies, such as those in the European Union, the United States, and Japan. This aims to accelerate the registration of new pharmaceutical products in both countries, reducing the time needed for new treatments to reach patients and ensuring faster access to innovative medical solutions.
The agreement also enhances post-marketing surveillance systems to identify any potential safety or quality concerns with medical products. It includes the development of early warning systems to detect counterfeit or defective products, enabling swift action to protect public health.
Additionally, the MoU encourages the exchange of research outcomes from clinical and non-clinical trials between the two nations, fostering collaboration in drug development. This includes joint efforts to develop innovative biomedical drugs that meet the needs of both communities.
Furthermore, the agreement provides for mutual training programs aimed at improving the skills of professionals in the pharmaceutical sector. It also promotes regular field visits to pharmaceutical facilities in both countries to exchange knowledge and technological expertise, with a focus on adhering to Good Clinical Practices (GCP) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), ensuring international standards are maintained throughout the production and distribution process.
The MoU also aims to strengthen research and development cooperation by forming joint task forces to evaluate biological products and advanced medical technologies. The exchange of cutting-edge technologies and the creation of strategies to manage innovative medical products, including biopharmaceuticals and invasive medical devices, will promote greater innovation in the pharmaceutical and medical sectors.
In addition, the agreement will see the organisation of joint scientific conferences and workshops to advance knowledge sharing and enhance research and technological capabilities in areas of mutual interest.
Dr. Fatima Al Kaabi highlighted that the MoU serves as a strategic framework for advancing health and pharmaceutical collaboration between the two countries. It supports innovation, improves access to modern medicines, and enhances regulatory systems to ensure the safety of medical products. The agreement aligns with the EDE’s strategy to strengthen the health sector and expand international partnerships, consistent with the vision of the UAE's leadership to promote cooperation across key industries.
She added that the EDE is committed to further integration with global partners to provide innovative and safe medical products that improve community well-being. The MoU also facilitates the exchange of research findings, as well as the organisation of field visits and training programs to boost the expertise of professionals in the pharmaceutical field.