Mauna Kea Technologies Launches CellTolerance at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi
Mauna Kea Technologies announced on 4 November 2026 the clinical launch of its CellTolerance program at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, the first institution in the Middle East and North Africa region to offer it. The company presents this deployment as a confirmation of its strategy of partnering with world-renowned hospital centers.
An Endoscopic Examination to Visualize Food Reactions
The launch follows the marketing authorization granted in the United Arab Emirates by the Emirates Drug Establishment in May 2026, then the approval from the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi. The program is aimed at patients suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) that may be linked to diet.
According to a systematic review published in 2024 covering 52 studies conducted in seven Arab countries, IBS affects on average nearly 27% of the population in these countries. A 2020 meta-analysis estimates the global prevalence at 9.2%.
Standard blood and skin tests only detect IgE-mediated food allergies. In a prospective study published in Gastroenterology, 70% of IBS patients whose IgE blood tests and skin prick tests were negative showed an immediate reaction to at least one common food component under confocal laser endomicroscopy.
Performed under sedation during an upper digestive endoscopy lasting less than 30 minutes, the examination consists of applying liquid food extracts to the wall of the duodenum, whose response the physician observes in real time using the Cellvizio platform. These observations complement conventional tests to guide targeted nutritional management.
An Expanded Network of Reference Centers in the Middle East
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, a member of the M42 health network and named best specialized hospital for gastroenterology in the Middle East by Newsweek, joins Stanford University and Hoag Memorial Hospital in the United States. It is also added to the University of Mainz and Klinikum Bamberg in Germany, where the CellTolerance approach was developed.
For Sacha Loiseau, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Mauna Kea Technologies, this launch constitutes “a major milestone for the program” and “also strengthens our strategy of partnering with world-renowned centers to accelerate the adoption of our technology”.
Dr. Sacha Sidani, gastroenterologist at the hospital's Digestive Disease Institute, explains that patients come to consult from across the region. He states: “we anticipate strong demand from those who have been living with these symptoms for years”.
