Dr Fatmah Al Zahmi
Consultant Neurologist at Mediclinic
Parkview Hospital, Dubai
Dr Mohammed Sallam
Pharmacy Manager at
Mediclinic Parkview Hospital
Mediclinic Parkview Hospital in Dubai is the first hospital in the UAE to offer Tofersen, a revolutionary medication for a rare subset of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Superoxide Dismutase 1 (SOD1) gene mutation-mediated ALS.
Dr Fatmah Al Zahmi, Consultant Neurologist at Mediclinic Parkview Hospital, Dubai, explained: “ALS is a debilitating neurodegenerative disease that affects thousands of individuals worldwide. SOD1 mutations account for approximately 20% of all familial ALS cases and 2% of all ALS cases.
“This medication is designed to bind to SOD1 mRNA, effectively reducing the production of toxic SOD1 protein in motor neurons. By addressing the underlying cause of ALS in this subset. We aim to slow down the progression of the disease and offer new hope to patients, particularly those with familial ALS.”
Dr Mohammed Sallam, Pharmacy Manager at Mediclinic Parkview Hospital, commented: “The therapy received FDA approval for the treatment of ALS secondary to SOD1 mutation on 25 April 2023, and was administered on 17 August 2023 for the first time in the UAE at Mediclinic Parkview Hospital. This approval marks a significant breakthrough in ALS treatment and underscores our commitment to bringing cutting-edge treatments to our patients.”
Dr Sallam added: “This achievement would not have been possible without the unwavering dedication and unique expertise of our team, led by Dr Fatmah Al Zahmi. Her relentless efforts to understand the underlying cause of ALS in her young patients and explore the most up-to-date treatments have resulted in timely access to this recently FDA-approved breakthrough therapy. Dr Fatmah emphasises that her patients shall always receive the highest standard of care available in the most reputable hospitals worldwide.”
