Sidra Medicine Introduces Two New Specialized Therapies for Children with High-Risk Neuroblastoma

Sidra Medicine has introduced two specialised therapies for children with high-risk neuroblastoma, marking two milestones in paediatric cancer care in Qatar and the Gulf region.

The hospital's Pediatric Hematology and Oncology and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant teams successfully administered naxitamab (Danyelza®) for the first time in the GCC, followed by dinutuximab beta (Qarziba®) for the first time in Qatar. Both treatments are anti-GD2 monoclonal antibody therapies used to treat high-risk neuroblastoma.

Neuroblastoma is a cancer that develops in a child's nerve tissue, particularly within the sympathetic nervous system. It mainly affects babies and young children and develops before the age of five in most cases.

Dr Chiara Cugno, Acting Division Chief of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at Sidra Medicine, said the introduction of the therapies required extensive preparation and collaboration between medical, surgical, nursing, pharmacy, education and other multidisciplinary teams. She said the milestone reflects Sidra Medicine's efforts to advance paediatric cancer care and expand access to specialised treatments for children and families in Qatar.

The two therapies were administered to patients following stem cell transplantation. One patient, who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma at birth, became the first patient in the GCC to receive naxitamab. The treatment formed part of a wider care plan at Sidra Medicine that also included chemotherapy and autologous transplantation.

Source: QNA

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