The Arabian Gulf University (AGU), a university in Al-Manamah, Bahrain, accredited by the Ministry of Education, Bahrain, and governed by Gulf Cooperative Countries, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SBI Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd, (SBI),  a Japanese-based pharma company manufacturing products containing 5-Aminolevulinic Acid, for  starting clinical studies in Bahrain on patients with diabetes.

AGU president Dr Khalid Al-Ohaly affirmed the importance of this research cooperation with SBI in the field of developing further medication and modern medical technologies. He also emphasised the need to test the medication composition in treating patients with diabetes and make it available in the local market at a later stage. Dr Al Ohaly stressed on the positive benefits for the Kingdom of Bahrain and GCC in developing scientific research.

“AGU would cooperate with BDF hospital and the Medical College at King Abdullah Medical City to undertake this preliminary study which is the first of its kind in the region” said SBI Representative director and CEO Yoshitaka Kitao. Bahrain was selected due to its encouraging policies that support national economic development initiatives, added Kitao.