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Turkish Healthcare Startup RS Research Uses Nanotech To Selectively Destroy Tumors
The startup designed a nanotechnology platform for highly targeted delivery of drugs directly to cancer cells.
All currently available types of treatment for cancer leave a lot to be desired — both in terms of their effectiveness and side effects. Chemotherapy, for example, is effective at preventing cancer from spreading to other parts of the body and even capable of eliminating it entirely, but it can’t tell the difference between cancer cells and healthy cells. Turkish healthcare startup RS Research strongly believes that it has the recipe for significantly increasing the effectiveness of drug-based cancer treatments like chemotherapy.
The startup designed a nanotechnology platform for highly targeted delivery of drugs directly to cancer cells. The platform is called Sagitta, and the name comes from the Latin word for “arrow.”
“Sagitta platform is a groundbreaking technology approach utilizing Polymer Drug Conjugates to target the tumor with a high payload of cytotoxins; resulting in high efficacy with reduced side-effect profile. In addition to moving our own candidates through clinical development, Sagitta platform is available for co-development projects,” explains RS Research on its website.
In other words, Sagitta allows drugs to do their job with minimal side effects, making it possible to avoid causing damage to healthy cells. If everything goes right, the technology could be used to support cancer treatment in Turkey and beyond as early as 2024.
Also Read: FDA Approves Israeli Cancer-Freezing Technology
Together with other innovative cancer treatments, such as gene therapy, hormone replacement therapy, and immunotherapy, scientists and doctors are gradually expanding the range of treatment options available to cancer patients, and we can only hope that a real cure isn’t too far away.
Not too long ago, the FDA approved an Israeli medical technology after demonstrating its ability to eliminate tumors using new cancer-freezing technology.
The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly accelerated many areas of medical research, and it would be a welcome turn of events if some coronavirus-related findings helped finally defeat cancer.
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Checkout.com Set To Launch Card Issuing In The UAE
The payment service provider’s expansion is a first-of-its-kind investment and could reshape digital transactions across the region.
Checkout.com is laying the groundwork to become the first global payments platform to introduce card issuing in the United Arab Emirates — a move that could reshape how businesses in the region manage financial transactions.
The company plans to roll out its domestic card issuance offering in the UAE by 2026, subject to regulatory approval. The launch would give businesses the tools to issue both physical and virtual branded cards. This, in turn, opens up new ways to reward customers, streamline expense processes, and handle B2B payouts efficiently.
Checkout.com’s CEO and Founder, Guillaume Pousaz, revealed the plans during Thrive Abu Dhabi, the firm’s debut conference in the Emirates. Joined on stage by Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, General Manager for MENA, Pousaz presented to an audience of over 150 partners and merchants at Saadiyat Island. Also in attendance was H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE’s Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications.
Abbondandolo highlighted the strategic importance of the announcement: “As a global business, we focus on bringing products to markets that our customers want and need. Today’s announcement is proof of our commitment to the MENA region and its rising influence in the digital economy. The appetite for innovation here is real, and we’re proud to be building the infrastructure that powers it”.
One early adopter of Checkout.com’s UAE acquiring services is Headout, a travel experiences marketplace, which recently named the payment provider as its main partner in Europe. The company has already begun card issuing there and is keen to expand that offering into MENA once approval is granted.
The expansion of services in the UAE and beyond builds on Checkout.com’s track record in the region. It was the first global payments firm to secure a Retail Payment Services license from the UAE’s Central Bank and was instrumental in rolling out Mada and Apple Pay in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Also Read: Protecting Your WhatsApp Account From Hackers: Kaspersky Expert Tips
The firm has also been rolling out new products: One of the latest is Flow Remember Me, currently in beta testing. It allows shoppers to store their card information once and access it across Checkout.com’s entire network, potentially cutting checkout times by up to 70%.
Earlier this year, Checkout.com also introduced Visa Direct’s Push-to-Card solution in the UAE, enabling both domestic and international payouts. Its collaboration with Mastercard has grown as well, making it easier for businesses to send funds directly to third-party cards securely and quickly.
With regional tech ambitions on the rise — spurred by initiatives like Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s 2031 Agenda — Checkout.com sees its role as one of a key enabler. “Our mission is to help ambitious businesses navigate the complexity of payments, so they can move faster, go further, and make the most of every opportunity,” said Abbondandolo. “In MENA, performance is personal. It’s local. It’s built on trust. And when payments perform, businesses thrive”.
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