Hong Kong-listed Insilico Medicine is in early-stage discussions about a secondary listing on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX), a move that would make the artificial intelligence-driven drug discovery firm the first company from outside the Gulf Cooperation Council region to list shares on a regional exchange. Bloomberg first reported the talks on 26 May 2026, and the news was subsequently confirmed by AGBI and other regional outlets.
A First for the ADX
If the listing proceeds, Insilico Medicine Cayman TopCo would mark a notable milestone for the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, which has been actively courting international issuers as part of its diversification strategy. According to AGBI, a direct listing is initially being considered, though the company may also opt to raise additional capital alongside the secondary listing. Several Abu Dhabi-based investors participated in the biotech firm's initial public offering on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, which raised roughly 337 million dollars in late December 2025.
In a clarification issued to the Hong Kong bourse, the company stressed that no concrete decision has yet been made. Discussions remain preliminary, and any formal announcement would follow Hong Kong listing rules.
Deep Roots in Masdar City
Insilico Medicine is not a newcomer to the UAE capital. The company opened its regional headquarters at Masdar City in early 2023, establishing the largest generative AI biotechnology research and development hub of its kind in the Middle East. The facility, located near the IRENA headquarters, hosts about 40 specialists working on the firm's Pharma.AI platform, aging research, and sustainable chemistry programmes.
The Masdar City expansion was made possible through a strategic partnership with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), under the emirate's HELM life sciences cluster. State news agency WAM has covered the lab extensively, noting that the entire research workflow, from molecular design to preclinical candidate nomination, is now conducted locally.
UAE-Born Drug Candidate
In April 2026, Insilico announced ISM0387, an MTA-cooperative PRMT5 inhibitor, as its first preclinical candidate developed entirely in the UAE. The molecule, designed for the treatment of glioblastoma, features central nervous system penetrant properties and represents the first end-to-end AI-designed drug candidate produced on Emirati soil.
A potential ADX listing would reinforce that local commitment and align the company with Abu Dhabi's broader push to position itself as a global hub for life sciences, artificial intelligence, and advanced technology. The emirate has spent years building an investment ecosystem around healthcare and deep-tech, and a successful Insilico debut could open the door for further cross-border listings from Asian biotech firms.
For now, investors will be watching for any further disclosures from the company or the ADX as the discussions progress.
