The Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE) has approved Mimrylo, a new treatment for polycythemia vera, a rare bone marrow disorder that causes the body to produce too many red blood cells. The approval makes the UAE only the second country in the world to authorise the medicine, positioning the country among the earliest adopters of an emerging class of targeted blood disorder treatments.
Polycythemia vera thickens the blood, raising the risk of clotting, stroke and heart attack if left unmanaged. Patients are often treated with regular phlebotomy, a procedure that removes blood to lower red cell counts, alongside medication. Mimrylo, known generically as rusfertide, works by regulating how the body uses iron, which in turn controls excess red blood cell production. Clinical trials showed it reduced the need for phlebotomy and eased chronic fatigue associated with the condition. The drug is supplied as a powder in single-dose vials that must be prepared before injection and administered only under a doctor experienced with the disorder.
Dr Fatima Al Kaabi of the Emirates Drug Establishment said the approval reflects the regulator's commitment to giving patients access to advanced treatments through a scientific assessment process that prioritises safety. Hernan Purcell, regional general manager for the Middle East and Turkey at Takeda, which markets the drug, called it an important milestone for people living with polycythemia vera in the region.
The regulator has not yet detailed when the drug will reach UAE pharmacies, its price, or whether it will be covered by health insurance. Polycythemia vera is a chronic, progressive condition that, left untreated, can lead to blood clots, an enlarged spleen and, in rare cases, leukaemia, making early access to targeted therapies significant for patients across the country.