Dubai, UAE, BioSapien, a UAE-based biotechnology startup, has extended its pre-Series A funding round to more than $8 million following fresh investment from MENA-based venture capital firm, Globivest.
The women-led venture capital joins a number of existing supports including Global Ventures, Golden Gate Ventures, and Dara Holdings, underscoring growing investor confidence in the startup’s pioneering cancer treatment platform, MediChip™.
The MediChip™, a 3D-printed localized delivery system for cancer therapeutics, believed to be a potentially transformative shift in oncology treatment by offering precision-targeted drug delivery with reduced systemic side effects.
The platform is designed to align with the UAE’s broader health innovation strategy and reflects increasing regional interest in scalable biotech solutions.
Addressing the media, Dr. Laura-Joy Boulos, Partner at Globivest said,
At Globivest, we back companies that deliver paradigm-shifting, science-backed solutions. BioSapien’s MediChip™ is not only scalable and precise, but also deeply resonates with our One Health mission.
The continued funding momentum reinforces the UAE’s position as a growing hub for medical innovation and impact-driven biotech ventures in the MENA region.
About Biosapien
Founded in 2018 by Dr. Khatija Ali, BioSapien emerged with a mission to revolutionize cancer care and minimize the side effects of traditional chemotherapy . Dr. Ali, an experienced medical educator and researcher with peer-reviewed publications and multiple awards, serves as CEO and is the inventor behind the patented MediChip™ platform .
What is MediChip™?
MediChip™ is a new type of cancer treatment technology designed to release cancer-fighting drugs slowly and directly at the tumor site. Instead of sending the medicine through the whole body like traditional chemotherapy (which can cause a lot of side effects), MediChip™ focuses the treatment only where it’s needed, on the cancer itself.
This targeted approach helps to reduce harm to the rest of the body and makes the treatment more effective over time.
Understand the funding story
They are currently raising money to grow their business, and they’re in a stage called “pre-Series A”, this is an early phase where startups collect funding from investors to prepare for bigger investment rounds.
In December 2024, BioSapien raised $5.5 million. Also, January 2025, they added more money, reaching $7 million.
Now, July 2025, they’ve extended that amount to over $8 million, thanks to a new investor: a women-led investment company, Globivest, based in the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa).
Why does this matter?
MediChip™ could be a game-changer for how we treat cancer, more targeted, less harmful, and aligned with modern healthcare innovation. UAE wants to become a hub for health innovation, so supporting companies like BioSapien fits their national goals.
Globivest believes in investing in startups that have real-world impact, and they see BioSapien as one of those promising innovators.
Talking Point
Biotechnology in the MENA region is advancing rapidly, driven by strong government support, national innovation strategies, and venture capital. Countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia are nurturing high-tech startups such as BioSapien, which is developing 3D-printed cancer treatment implants backed by major regional and global investors.
In Africa, biotech innovation is emerging with a focus on diagnostics and genomics. Startups like Yemaachi Biotech (Ghana), Syndicate Bio (Nigeria), and 54gene have made names in cancer research, precision medicine, and African genomic data.
However, challenges around funding, infrastructure, and regulation slow down growth compared to MENA.
While MENA moves faster through policy-driven innovation, Africa is building a community-led, research-focused biotech scene tailored to local health needs. Both regions show strong potential, but their growth paths and priorities remain distinct for now.
