How to access Briumvi for relapsing multiple sclerosis from Abu Dhabi: 2026 emirate pathway via Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, SSMC, and Tawam
*Clinically reviewed by Mohammad Ali, MD (US-trained physician, Chief AI Officer, Reserve Meds). Last reviewed 2026-05-20.
Abu Dhabi runs adult neurology services through the Department of Health Abu Dhabi (DoH) coordinating public-sector access alongside Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi (neurology institute, with MD Anderson affiliation), Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC), Tawam Hospital in Al Ain (academic tertiary centre), Burjeel Medical City, NMC Royal Khalifa City, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), and the private-sector neurology network. The Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi neurology institute is the regional flagship for multiple sclerosis (MS) services with a high-volume MS clinic and dedicated neurology infusion suite that handles all current anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies. Briumvi (ublituximab-xiiy, TG Therapeutics) was FDA-approved in December 2022 and EMA-approved in May 2023 as the third anti-CD20 biologic for relapsing MS. For an Abu Dhabi-resident adult with confirmed relapsing-remitting MS, active secondary-progressive MS, or clinically isolated syndrome, the operational question in 2026 is whether Briumvi, Ocrevus, or Kesimpta is the right fit, where the infusion is delivered, what insurance applies, and how the treatment plan fits the patient's life.
This page explains the 2026 pathway for an Abu Dhabi-resident adult: who qualifies, where the prescribing neurologist conversation happens, how loading and maintenance infusions are coordinated, what the realistic cost band looks like in AED, what to monitor, and how the treatment plan fits.
Why Briumvi, and why now
Briumvi is a glycoengineered humanised IgG1 anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody. By binding CD20 on B-lymphocytes and depleting them through antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, complement-dependent cytotoxicity, and direct B-cell apoptosis, Briumvi reduces the B-cell pool that drives MS relapse activity. Glycoengineering (low-fucose Fc) makes Briumvi more potent per milligram than prior anti-CD20 agents, allowing a 450 mg maintenance dose (vs Ocrevus 600 mg) and a maintenance infusion of approximately 1 hour (vs Ocrevus 3 to 4 hours). The pivotal ULTIMATE I and II trials (Steinman L et al., NEJM 2022) showed a 49 to 59 percent reduction in annualised relapse rate versus teriflunomide.
What Briumvi is, in plain language
Briumvi is an IV infusion administered in a hospital infusion suite. Not self-administered.
Loading: Day 1 (150 mg, ~4 hours total visit), Day 15 (450 mg, ~3 hours total visit). Maintenance: 450 mg IV every 24 weeks (twice yearly), ~2 to 3 hours total visit.
Premedication standard: corticosteroid + antihistamine + acetaminophen.
Years-long treatment. No fixed stop point.
Eligibility at an Abu Dhabi neurology service
1. Confirmed relapsing MS by neurologist applying 2017 McDonald criteria. 2. Recent MRI brain and spine within 3 months. 3. Active disease evidence. 4. Prior DMT history typical for funding pre-authorisation. 5. Pre-treatment screening: HBV (HBsAg + anti-HBcore), JC virus serology, HIV, TB, baseline serum immunoglobulins. 6. Vaccination status review. 7. Pregnancy planning discussion.
The Abu Dhabi prescribing and supply picture
Briumvi UAE Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE) registration status verified at intake. Abu Dhabi-emirate dispensing coordinated through DoH Abu Dhabi for public-sector pathway, or directly through the prescribing private hospital's pharmacy for private-sector pathway.
The pathway is: 1. Prescribing neurologist with MS expertise: Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi Neurology Institute (the regional MS reference), SSMC Neurology, Tawam Hospital Al Ain Neurology, Burjeel Medical City Neurology, NMC Royal Khalifa City Neurology, SKMC Neurology, plus other DoH-licensed neurology services. 2. Infusion centre logistics: Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi neurology infusion suite is the regional reference; SSMC, Tawam, Burjeel, and NMC Royal also run neurology infusion programmes. 3. Pharmacy dispensing: Hospital pharmacy. 4. Funding pre-authorisation: Thiqa coverage for Emirati nationals through the established DoH-funded tertiary pathway. Daman commercial insurance and other commercial insurers (Oman Insurance, AXA Gulf, MetLife, Cigna) for residents on case-by-case basis. 5. Pre-treatment workup: HBV, JC virus, immunoglobulins, vaccinations. 6. Ongoing monitoring: Neurology follow-up every 3 to 6 months. MRI annually. Quarterly IgG.
The 2026 pathway, step by step
Week 0 to 2: Documentation pack assembly with treating neurologist. Week 2 to 6: Funding pre-authorisation review; pre-treatment screening returns. Week 6 to 8: First infusion (Day 1, 150 mg). Week 8 to 10: Second infusion (Day 15, 450 mg). Week 32: First maintenance dose. Week 56, 80, 104+: Maintenance every 24 weeks.
Cost expectation in AED
US WAC ~ USD 59,000 per 450 mg infusion. MENA cash-pay band USD 45,000 to 55,000 per vial.
Year 1 total (loading + first maintenance): - USD 105,000 to 130,000 cash-pay band. - AED 385,000 to 477,000 at 2026 indicative cross rates.
Year 2+ steady state (two infusions per year): - USD 90,000 to 110,000 cash-pay. - AED 330,000 to 404,000 per year.
Thiqa for Emirati nationals covers anti-CD20 MS therapy on documented eligibility. Commercial cover for residents varies.
What to monitor on Briumvi
Briumvi sits in the anti-CD20 class with Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) and Kesimpta (ofatumumab). Three safety signals stand out for an Indian patient and the treating neurology team beyond the hepatitis B screening already noted: progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) and JC virus, persistent hypogammaglobulinaemia, and infusion reactions. Each is described below with the monitoring cadence and the prescribing-information citation.
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) and JC virus. Anti-CD20 therapies including ublituximab carry a class risk for PML, a rare and serious brain infection caused by reactivation of the JC virus in immunosuppressed patients. Symptoms include progressive limb weakness, behavioural and cognitive changes, and disturbance of vision or speech. PML cases on ublituximab have been reported in the post-marketing setting (Briumvi Prescribing Information, section 5.4). Baseline JC virus antibody serology is not mandated by the FDA label before initiation, but most MS neurology programmes order it for risk stratification, particularly when sequencing onto Briumvi from natalizumab (Tysabri). Any new neurological symptom during treatment, including symptoms that do not fit the patient's prior MS relapse pattern, warrants urgent neurology re-evaluation with MRI. Reference: Briumvi (ublituximab-xiiy) Prescribing Information, TG Therapeutics, section 5.4, US FDA approval December 2022.
Hypogammaglobulinaemia and immunoglobulin monitoring. Anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies deplete B-lymphocytes and, with repeated dosing, reduce circulating immunoglobulin levels over time. The Briumvi label requires baseline measurement of serum IgG, IgA, and IgM before treatment initiation, with monitoring during treatment and after discontinuation until B-cell repletion (Briumvi Prescribing Information, section 5.5). Indian MS-experienced centres typically check quantitative immunoglobulins at baseline and every six months at the maintenance-infusion visit. Persistent hypogammaglobulinaemia, in particular IgG below 4 g/L, increases the risk of serious bacterial infection; immunoglobulin replacement (IVIG) may be considered in consultation with immunology if levels remain low and infections recur. References: Briumvi Prescribing Information, section 5.5; Steinman L et al., Ublituximab versus teriflunomide in relapsing multiple sclerosis (ULTIMATE I and II), N Engl J Med 2022;387(8):704-714.
Infusion reactions and premedication. Infusion reactions are the most frequent adverse event in the ULTIMATE I and II trials, occurring in approximately 48 percent of Briumvi-treated patients and most often with the first (Day 1, 150 mg) infusion. Premedication is mandatory before each infusion: methylprednisolone 100 mg IV (or equivalent corticosteroid) approximately 30 minutes pre-infusion, plus an oral or IV antihistamine such as diphenhydramine 25 to 50 mg, plus an antipyretic such as paracetamol 650 mg orally (Briumvi Prescribing Information, section 5.1, dosing and administration). The first 150 mg infusion is delivered over approximately 4 hours with continuous observation; the 450 mg doses run over approximately 1 hour if the Day 1 infusion was tolerated. Reactions may present as throat tightness, flushing, headache, fever, urticaria, bronchospasm, or hypotension and are managed by slowing or temporarily stopping the infusion, optimising premedication, and observing recovery before resuming. Severe reactions, including anaphylaxis, require permanent discontinuation. References: Briumvi Prescribing Information, section 5.1 and dosing schedule; TG Therapeutics infusion administration guide.
Religious, ethical, and family-logistics framing
Briumvi is a recombinant humanised IgG1 antibody. No donor element, no human tissue source. The classical analogy to vaccines and biologics holds in MENA Islamic medical ethics.
Twice-yearly infusion cadence: two clinic days per year. No daily pill, no weekly injection.
Pre-treatment workup is one-off at initiation plus quarterly IgG monitoring.
Pregnancy planning: contraception during treatment and for 6 months after last infusion.
When Briumvi is not the right call
For Abu Dhabi patients with well-controlled MS on moderate-efficacy oral DMT, primary-progressive MS (Briumvi not indicated; ocrelizumab is the anti-CD20 with PPMS approval), low baseline immunoglobulins, untreated chronic HBV, or imminent pregnancy plans:
- Ocrevus: IV anti-CD20, similar efficacy, longer infusion, PPMS approved. - Kesimpta: SC monthly home-administered anti-CD20. - Off-label rituximab: off-label in MS, used in some MENA centres. - Natalizumab (Tysabri): non-anti-CD20 high efficacy. - High-efficacy oral agents: cladribine, siponimod, ozanimod. - Moderate-efficacy oral agents: teriflunomide, dimethyl fumarate, fingolimod.
Reserve Meds does not promote one anti-CD20 MS therapy over another.
What Reserve Meds does on this case
We are a US-based concierge coordinator. Not the prescriber, not the dispensing pharmacy. On an Abu Dhabi Briumvi case we build the documentation pack with the treating neurologist's office, run the funding pre-authorisation conversation (Thiqa or commercial), coordinate the pre-treatment workup, organise the infusion-suite scheduling (Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC), Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Tawam Hospital, Burjeel Medical City, and NMC Royal Hospital Abu Dhabi), and stay with the case through the first 18 months. Clinical decisions remain with your treating neurologist.
Frequently asked patient questions
How is Briumvi different from Ocrevus? Shorter maintenance infusion (~1 hour vs 3 to 4 hours).
Will I need to stop my current MS medication? Most prior DMTs require washout.
How long do I take Briumvi for? For as long as it controls your MS.
Can I get pregnant on Briumvi? Contraception during treatment and for 6 months after last infusion.
Where can I get my Briumvi infusions in Abu Dhabi? Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi (the regional reference), SSMC, Tawam Al Ain, Burjeel Medical City, and NMC Royal Khalifa City all run neurology infusion programmes that handle anti-CD20 agents.
What does the infusion day look like? Day 1: ~4 hours. Day 15: ~3 hours. Maintenance: ~2 to 3 hours.
Next steps
If you are an Abu Dhabi-resident adult with relapsing MS considering Briumvi, the next step is the conversation with your treating neurologist. Reserve Meds coordinates the documentation pack, funding pre-authorisation, and infusion-suite scheduling once the prescribing decision is in place.
Composite case examples; no individual patient is depicted. This content is for general information and does not constitute medical advice. Reserve Meds is a US-based concierge coordinator; we are not the prescriber and not the dispensing pharmacy. Clinical decisions remain with your treating neurologist.
Clinical and regulatory review: Mohammad Ali, MD (US-trained physician, Chief AI Officer, Reserve Meds). Last medically reviewed: 2026-05-20.