Doha, October 01 (QNA) - Sidra Medicine’s Pediatric Hematology and Oncology and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant ( HSCT) teams have successfully administered naxitamab (Danyelza®) for the first time in the GCC, followed by dinutuximab beta (Qarziba®) for the first time in Qatar. Both are anti-GD2 monoclonal antibody therapies and are used in the treatment of high-risk neuroblastoma.

Neuroblastoma is a type of cancer that develops in a child’s nerve tissue - the sympathetic nervous system. The cancer affects babies and young children and almost always develops before the age of five.

On this occasion, Dr. Chiara Cugno, Acting Division Chief of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at Sidra Medicine said: "The introduction of these complex therapies involved extensive preparation and collaboration across Sidra Medicine’s medical, surgical, nursing, pharmacy, education and wider multidisciplinary teams. This is also a testament to our commitment to continually advance pediatric cancer treatment and care as well as expanding access to specialized therapies for children and families in Qatar."

The medical team at Sidra diagnosed the first patient in Qatar with neuroblastoma at birth. The patient was the first in the GCC to receive a new specialized treatment. The new specialized therapy was part of the patient's treatment regimen at Sidra Medicine, which included a combination of chemotherapy and autologous transplantation. (QNA)