July 7, 2025
Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. – BioSapien, the biotech company behind MediChip™, a game-changing localized cancer treatment platform, has announced the extension of its pre-Series A funding round, which now exceeds $8 million. The round includes a new strategic investment from Globivest, the MENA region’s first women-led, gender-lens venture capital fund.
Globivest, backed by European pharmaceutical limited partners, joins a distinguished roster of existing investors including Global Ventures, Golden Gate Ventures, and Dara Holdings. Their participation highlights growing confidence in BioSapien’s mission to revolutionize precision medicine through targeted, localized drug delivery.
New Leadership to Drive Innovation and Global Growth
In tandem with the funding update, BioSapien has announced a wave of key appointments across technology, medical affairs, regulatory compliance, and operations. These additions bring world-class expertise that will help the company scale and prepare for clinical trials of MediChip™.
Among the new senior leaders:
- Joseph Borrello, PhD – Chief Technology Officer
- Sonia Ramamoorthy, MD MBA FACS – Head of Medical Affairs
- Agnes Westelinck, PharmD – Head of U.S. Regulatory Affairs
- Dirk Richter, MD FACS – Head of UAE Regulatory Affairs
- David Briere, PhD – Director of Pharmacology
- Jerry Webb, BSc – Head of Quality
In total, 12 new team members have joined the company, including talent in manufacturing, compliance, business operations, and clinical development.
Voices from Leadership
Dr. Khatija Ali, CEO of BioSapien, emphasized the importance of both capital and talent at this stage in the company’s journey:
“Two of the greatest challenges for young, fast-growing companies are establishing a strong balance sheet and attracting high-quality talent. I’m thrilled to welcome Globivest as a strategic investor — their mission and vision align deeply with our own. I’m equally excited to strengthen our team with exceptional experts who share our commitment to advancing precision medicine globally.”
Dr. Laura-Joy Boulos, Partner at Globivest, added:
“At Globivest, we back startups that don’t just talk innovation — they deliver it with scientific integrity and real-world impact. BioSapien’s MediChip™ is a groundbreaking solution in localized oncology treatment. We’re proud to support Dr. Khatija Ali and her team in reshaping the future of cancer care.”
About BioSapien
BioSapien is a clinical-stage biotech firm headquartered between the U.S. and the UAE, developing MediChip™—a biodegradable, 3D-printed drug delivery platform that enables localized, sustained chemotherapy directly at tumor sites. This approach minimizes systemic toxicity while improving therapeutic outcomes.
With a strong IP portfolio, global regulatory roadmap, and promising applications beyond oncology (including infectious disease and post-operative care), BioSapien is well-positioned to support the UAE’s vision of becoming a leader in sovereign biotech manufacturing and precision medicine.
🔗 Learn more: www.biosapien.com
About Globivest
Globivest is the first women-led, gender-lens impact VC fund from the MENA region. Backing scalable, early-stage startups at the intersection of health, tech, and environmental innovation, the fund aligns closely with the WHO’s One Health mission. Globivest’s scientific credibility is further enhanced by its partnership with Sci-dip, a platform of over 10,000 PhD experts used to vet and support portfolio companies.
With Fund II closed and a fast-growing portfolio of nine companies, Globivest is emerging as a powerful force in impact-driven, science-led investment across EMEA and the Americas.
Media Contact:
Thoburns PR | Johanna Lawson-Dick
📧 BioSapien@thoburns.com
