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Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD): US-approved treatments and how families in the Gulf can access them

A plain guide for families in the Gulf, checked against US FDA labels, US National Institutes of Health information, Gulf drug registers and published research on 17 October 2026.

Reviewed by the Reserve Meds clinical operations team on 17 October 2026.

Chronic granulomatous disease: the short answer

The US FDA has approved one medicine covered on this page for chronic granulomatous disease, each for a specific group of patients: Actimmune. On 17 October 2026, none of them was on the Saudi or Abu Dhabi register we checked. Where a medicine is not registered, the treating hospital can ask the national regulator to import it for one named patient. Reserve Meds is a digital health company that helps with that process. We do not diagnose or prescribe.

  • US FDA-approved medicines on this page: Actimmune.
  • Gulf registers (checked 17 October 2026): see each medicine below.
  • Legal route: local supply where listed; otherwise a named-patient import request filed by the treating hospital.
  • Price: Quote on request.

What is chronic granulomatous disease?

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is an inherited disorder that causes the immune system to malfunction, so the body cannot protect itself well from bacteria and fungi. People with CGD typically have at least one serious bacterial or fungal infection every 3 to 4 years, and the lungs are the most frequent site.[1, 2]

People with CGD may also have areas of inflammation called granulomas in various tissues, which can damage those tissues. Features usually first appear in childhood.[1]

CGD is caused by changes in genes for parts of an enzyme complex called NADPH oxidase, which immune cells called phagocytes use to destroy bacteria and fungi. It is estimated to occur in 1 in 200,000 to 250,000 people worldwide.[1]

Chronic granulomatous disease in the Gulf

CGD has been studied in several Gulf countries, including a 2023 study of clinical and molecular characteristics in the United Arab Emirates and family studies of clinical and molecular findings in Oman.[3, 4]

We checked every medicine on this page against the full SFDA drugs list and the Abu Dhabi Department of Health drug code list on 17 October 2026. 0 of 1 were listed in Saudi Arabia and 0 of 1 in Abu Dhabi. The result for each medicine is shown below. A listing does not mean every hospital stocks the medicine, and federal UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman registers were not checked.[5, 6]

US FDA-approved medicines for chronic granulomatous disease

Each medicine below is approved in the US for a specific group of patients. The wording summarizes the current US label. Your specialist decides whether any of them is right for the patient.

  • Actimmune (interferon gamma-1b)
    US FDA-approved for reducing the frequency and severity of serious infections associated with chronic granulomatous disease. It is interferon gamma-1b, given as an injection under the skin.[7]
    Current US label version: 30 March 2026. Gulf registers: Saudi Arabia (SFDA drugs list): not found. Abu Dhabi (DoH drug code list): not found. Checked 17 October 2026. Federal UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman: not checked; we confirm for your country when you ask.[5, 6]

How families in the Gulf can access treatment

If it is not registered. The usual legal route is a named-patient request: the treating hospital, on your specialist's written request, asks the national regulator for permission to import the medicine for one patient, using the US FDA approval as the reference. In Saudi Arabia the SFDA Special Access Program guidance covers these requests; in Bahrain, NHRA Circular 41 of 2020 sets the procedure. Other Gulf countries have their own procedures, which the hospital confirms.[8, 9] Once approval is in place, Reserve Meds arranges supply through a US-licensed pharmaceutical wholesale partner to the hospital.

Who does what

  • Your treating specialist decides whether a medicine is right for the patient and writes the medical letter.
  • The hospital checks local supply, files any import request, and gives the treatment safely.
  • The national regulator decides whether to approve the import of a medicine that is not registered.
  • The manufacturer decides where its medicine can be supplied, especially for cell and gene therapies.
  • Reserve Meds helps organize records, coordinates US supply through our wholesale partner, shipping and updates to your family. We do not give medical advice.

Documents you will usually need

  • A letter from the treating specialist with the diagnosis, past treatments and why this medicine is being considered
  • Reports that confirm the diagnosis, such as genetic, pathology, imaging or laboratory results, translated into English where needed
  • Recent clinic notes and a list of current medicines
  • For a hospital import request: the prescription, the hospital's request form and the written consent of the patient or guardian
  • Proof of the US FDA approval and the US prescribing information (we can supply these)

We give you a written timeline estimate for your case before you commit. The regulator, the hospital or treatment center and the manufacturer set their own timelines.

What treatment costs

Quote on request. Your total cost depends on the medicine, the dose, shipping, import steps and coordination. Your coordination fee is quoted in writing for your case before you commit. No hidden charges.

How Reserve Meds helps

Reserve Meds is a digital health company. Medicines are supplied through a US-licensed pharmaceutical wholesale partner. We help your doctor and hospital prepare the file, arrange US supply and temperature-controlled shipping once approval is in place, and keep your family updated. We coordinate access to FDA-approved medicines only. Investigational medicines are only available through a manufacturer's expanded-access program requested by the treating physician; we can explain that route, but we do not supply them.

Ask us about treatment for chronic granulomatous disease

Tell us the medicine, your country and a WhatsApp or phone number. We reply within one business day. On WhatsApp we usually reply the same day.

Include the country code, for example +966 or +971.
Message us on WhatsApp

No account needed. We reply within one business day. Your coordination fee is quoted in writing for your case before you commit. No hidden charges.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an FDA-approved treatment for chronic granulomatous disease?

Yes. The medicine on this page has US FDA approval for specific groups of patients: Actimmune. The exact conditions are in each US label and are summarized above. Your specialist decides whether any of them fits.

Is Actimmune available in Saudi Arabia or the UAE?

We checked on 17 October 2026. Saudi Arabia (SFDA drugs list): not found. Abu Dhabi (Department of Health drug code list): not found. A listing in Abu Dhabi does not show federal UAE status, which we could not verify. Your hospital confirms current supply.

How can a family in the Gulf get Actimmune?

Ask the treating hospital about local supply first. If it is not available, the hospital can file a named-patient import request with the national regulator on your specialist's written request. Once approved, we arrange US supply to the hospital.

How much does treatment cost?

Quote on request. Your total cost, including the medicine, shipping, import steps and coordination, is quoted in writing for your case before you commit. No hidden charges.

Does Reserve Meds diagnose or prescribe?

No. Reserve Meds is a digital health company. Medicines are supplied through a US-licensed pharmaceutical wholesale partner. We do not diagnose, prescribe or decide what a regulator approves. Your specialist and hospital make the medical decisions.

Is Actimmune a cure for CGD?

No. Actimmune's US label is to reduce the frequency and severity of serious infections associated with CGD. The immunology team plans the rest of the care.

Sources for the condition-specific answers: [7]

Sources

Accessed and checked on 17 October 2026. Labels, registers and regulator rules change. Your hospital confirms the current position before anything is filed.

  1. MedlinePlus Genetics (US National Library of Medicine): Chronic granulomatous disease
  2. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID): Chronic Granulomatous Disease (CGD)
  3. Al Kuwaiti AA, et al. Chronic granulomatous disease in the United Arab Emirates: clinical and molecular characteristics in a single center. Front Immunol. 2023 (PubMed 38022624)
  4. Al-Zadjali S, et al. Clinical and molecular findings of chronic granulomatous disease in Oman: family studies. Clin Genet. 2015 (PubMed 24446915)
  5. SFDA: Drugs List, public register (all 9,173 entries checked by brand name on 17 October 2026)
  6. Department of Health Abu Dhabi: drug code list Drugs.xlsx (release 26 September 2026, effective 2 October 2026)
  7. DailyMed: ACTIMMUNE (interferon gamma-1b) US prescribing information, label version 30 March 2026
  8. SFDA: Special Access Program (SAP) guidance, version 1.0
  9. NHRA Bahrain: Circular No. (41) of 2020, procedures for importing non-registered medicines and pharmaceutical products

Related

This page is general health information, not medical advice. It does not replace a consultation with your doctor.

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