The UAE continues to expand its presence in the field of advanced medical technologies: the state investment holding M42, created by combining the assets of Mubadala and G42, has invested in British biotechnology company Juvenescence, which specializes in anti-aging drugs. According to the M42 press service, the startup is valued at more than $550 million, although the exact amount of the investment is not disclosed. In addition to the capital, the partners are creating a strategic alliance focused on using artificial intelligence to develop drugs that extend a healthy lifespan, Bloomberg has reported.
A statement by M42 CEO Hassan Jasem Al-Nowais clearly indicates the company’s ambitions: “Together with Juvenescence, we want to radically change the approach to the creation and delivery of medicines, making innovative therapies available to patients on a global scale.” This investment is in line with Abu Dhabi’s broader strategy to develop a healthcare industry that uses AI and biotechnology to address global healthcare challenges and significantly reduce the cost of treating chronic diseases.
M42 is building a global healthcare giant
Under Al-Nowais’ leadership, M42 is actively building a global leader in AI for healthcare. Last year, the company acquired one of the largest dialysis clinic operators in Europe, the Swedish-Spanish network Diaverum, for $2.5 billion. The deal with Juvenescence is another key piece in this puzzle: the British startup has promising technologies that can radically change the treatment of dangerous diseases, including cardiovascular, oncological and neurodegenerative disorders.
In particular, Juvenescence is actively using AI and big data to accelerate the process of discovering new drugs, which allows it to significantly reduce R&D costs and accelerate the introduction of innovative drugs to the market. This is strategically important for M42, which seeks not only to expand its asset portfolio, but also to provide the Emirati healthcare sector with access to advanced global developments. The next logical step for the company may be to expand partnerships with US and European pharmaceutical giants.
Abu Dhabi’s biotech investments
M42 is not the first player in the region to bet on longevity. Earlier, Mubadala Investment Co., one of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds, invested in Swiss biotech company Rejuveron Life Sciences, which also deals with anti-aging therapy. The UAE’s strategic bet on extending life is not only a social project, but also a serious economic initiative: according to Bank of America forecasts, the global market for anti-aging drugs could reach $600 billion by 2030.
For Abu Dhabi, the development of advanced medicine is not just a diversification from oil, but the key to leadership in the global economy of the future. M42 recently announced plans to build a state-of-the-art cancer center that will use heavy-ion therapy to treat cancer, and already runs the Emirati Genome Program, which collects population health data for personalized medicine. The deal with Juvenescence is therefore part of Abu Dhabi’s broader strategy to build a global hub for medical innovation, where artificial intelligence and biotechnology work together to transform medicine globally.