UAE-Based BioSapien Secures $7 Million to Advance Cancer Treatment

BioSapien, a biotech startup with operations in both the UAE and the US, has extended its pre-Series A funding to $7 million, attracting new investment from Golden Gate Ventures’ MENA Fund. This marks the fund’s inaugural investment in the region. The extended round follows an initial $5.5 million raise in December, led by Global Ventures, with additional participation from Dara Holdings.

Founded in 2018 by Khatija Ali, BioSapien has developed MediChip, a 3D-printed drug delivery platform that targets cancer cells with precision while minimising the systemic side effects of conventional treatments. The funds raised will be used to expedite clinical trials in the UAE, scheduled to begin in Q2 2025, and to scale product development and manufacturing.

MediChip’s technology delivers medications directly to tumours, reducing the amount of drugs required without compromising effectiveness. Initially focused on treating colorectal cancer, the startup plans to expand its platform to address other cancers, including pancreatic and lung cancers, as well as non-cancer applications like hormone therapy and biologics. BioSapien aims to treat over one million patients by 2035.