Doha:Sidra Medicine has introduced two innovative therapies for treating children with high-risk neuroblastoma, marking significant firsts in the region. The Pediatric Hematology and Oncology and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT) teams successfully administered naxitamab (Danyelza®) in the GCC for the first time and dinutuximab beta (Qarziba®) in Qatar for the first time. Both therapies are anti-GD2 monoclonal antibodies used to treat this aggressive cancer that affects young children.
According to Qatar News Agency, neuroblastoma develops in a child's nerve tissue, specifically the sympathetic nervous system, and typically presents before age five. Sidra Medicine's initiatives in applying these therapies involved extensive collaboration among various departments, including medical, surgical, nursing, pharmacy, and education teams.
Dr. Chiara Cugno, Acting Division Chief of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at Sidra Medicine, emphasized the comprehensive preparation required to introduce these therapies, highlighting the institution's dedication to advancing pediatric cancer treatment in Qatar. The therapies' introduction demonstrates Sidra Medicine's commitment to expanding specialized care access for children and families.
The first patient in Qatar diagnosed with neuroblastoma at birth was treated at Sidra Medicine, becoming the first in the GCC to receive this new specialized therapy as part of a treatment regimen that included chemotherapy and autologous transplantation.