A woman in her forties has been treated with a new oral drug designed to target a breast cancer mutation.
Abu Dhabi has achieved a global milestone by becoming the first place in the world to administer camizestrant, a next-generation therapy for advanced breast cancer, in a clinical care setting, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) announced on Wednesday.
The treatment is designed to enable earlier, more targeted intervention for patients whose cancer has developed resistance to standard hormone therapy.
Earlier this month, the Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE) confirmed that the UAE was the first country to approve the new oral treatment, AstraZeneca’s Etcamah, which contains the active ingredient camizestrant, for a specific type of advanced or metastatic breast cancer.
Under the supervision of the DoH, the regulator of Abu Dhabi’s healthcare sector, the Burjeel Cancer Institute administered the precision therapy to a woman in her forties diagnosed with advanced breast cancer. She was found to carry an ESR1 gene mutation, which can make cancer resistant to conventional endocrine treatments and contribute to disease progression.
The mutation was identified through circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) monitoring, a blood-based method that detects molecular changes linked to treatment resistance before disease progression becomes visible on scans or through clinical symptoms.
Camizestrant offers a more targeted option for patients whose cancer has developed an ESR1 gene mutation. By enabling a more precise and personalised treatment approach before clear signs of disease progression appear, it may help control the cancer for longer, delay further progression, and preserve patients’ quality of life.
Precision medicine
Health officials said the achievement underscores Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading destination for advanced healthcare, where cutting-edge diagnostics and early access to specialised treatments are enabling more personalised care.
Dr Noura Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), said the milestone reflects a shift in modern healthcare from reacting to disease to detecting changes early and intervening before a patient’s condition worsens.
She said the first global administration of camizestrant in a clinical setting aligns with Abu Dhabi’s vision of building one of the world’s most advanced and intelligent healthcare systems, focused on prevention, early detection, and timely intervention. By enabling responsible and timely access to advanced therapies, Abu Dhabi is strengthening precision medicine, improving patient outcomes, and reinforcing its position as a global healthcare hub.
Prof. Humaid Bin Harmal Al Shamsi, Chief Executive Officer of Burjeel Cancer Institute, said the institute is the first in the world to treat a patient with this innovative therapy. He said the milestone reflects its approach of integrating advanced molecular diagnostics, artificial intelligence, and analytical technologies into patient care to deliver more personalised treatment decisions based on each patient’s biology.
How resistance is detected
He added that the development goes beyond introducing a new drug, representing a broader precision oncology model based on continuous molecular monitoring. Using ctDNA testing, clinicians can detect resistance to endocrine therapy at an early stage and intervene before radiological or clinical signs of disease progression appear, helping patients better control the disease while maintaining quality of life.
