Eli Lilly Drugstore LLC (Lilly) and the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to address obesity and Alzheimer’s disease in the Emirate. The agreement was signed at the BIO International Convention 2026 in San Diego, USA, on 29 June 2026.
The collaboration brings together Lilly’s therapeutic experience in metabolic and neurodegenerative disease with Abu Dhabi’s population health data and clinical infrastructure, in support of the Emirate’s ambition to become a hub for life sciences research.
AI-enabled obesity care model
Under the first of two strategic workstreams, Lilly and DoH intend to establish a joint task force to co-design an AI-enabled obesity and cardiometabolic care model tailored to the Abu Dhabi population. The initiative is intended to draw on population health data and Lilly’s expertise in metabolic disease to support risk stratification and individualised intervention strategies.
Dr Asma Ibrahim Al Mannaei, Executive Director of the Health Life Sciences Sector at DoH, said: “Abu Dhabi has established one of the world’s most advanced ecosystems for precision medicine, built on population-scale genomics, advanced health data and clinical excellence. This collaboration with Lilly strengthens our ability to translate these capabilities into more personalised approaches to obesity andd Alzheimer’s disease, improving outcomes for patients across the Emirate and beyond.”
Alzheimer’s Disease Centre of Excellence
The second workstream centres on exploring the development of an Alzheimer’s Disease Centre of Excellence, building on an existing neurodegenerative disease collaboration between DoH and Lilly. The stated aims include strengthening early detection, integrated digital cognitive screening, biomarker-based diagnosis, and care pathways spanning the Alzheimer’s disease continuum, alongside access to disease-modifying therapies.
Leena Aziz, Senior Director, Corporate and Government Affairs Gulf at Lilly, commented: “Together, we are advancing a model of care that brings together AI, population health insights, clinical excellence and breakthrough science to address two of the region’s most urgent health challenges: obesity and Alzheimer’s disease.”
