IBS-related symptom prevalence in the region is among the highest in the world, reaching an average of 27%
An ideal region uniquely positioned for CellTolerance®’s direct out-of-pocket commercial expansion
First sales confirmed in UAE this quarter
Paris and Boston, May 20, 2026 – 5:45 p.m. CEST – Mauna Kea Technologies (Euronext Growth: ALMKT), inventor of Cellvizio®, the multidisciplinary probe and needle-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (p/nCLE) platform, today announces a significant milestone in its international expansion, driven by official regulatory approvals in both the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Turkey, alongside the first commercial sales for CellTolerance® in the region. These authorizations enable the full-scale launch of the CellTolerance® program in a region characterized by a record prevalence of disorders of the gut-brain interaction or DGBI.
The Middle East stands as a significant commercial growth driver for Mauna Kea Technologies, given the region’s exceptionally high rates of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and food intolerances. In the UAE and the Arab World, a 2024 systematic review highlights an average IBS prevalence of 27% across the region1, with specific demographics such as young adults in the UAE reporting symptoms in up to 39% of the population2. These figures, driven by rapid lifestyle changes, dietary shifts, and high stress levels, create a massive demand for precise diagnostic tools,positioning CellTolerance as a critical test in the patient workflow.
The Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE) and the Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency (TITCK) have granted official market authorization for the Cellvizio Gen 3 system and its specialized suite of probes. Building immediately on these approvals, Mauna Kea Technologies has secured its first commercial sale of Cellvizio in the UAE dedicated specifically to the CellTolerance® program. The Company and its distribution partners are actively advancing a pipeline of additional commercial prospects across the region.
The international rollout of CellTolerance® is driven by a direct “cash-pay” (out-of-pocket) commercial strategy, which is well-suited to the Middle Eastern healthcare landscape. This region is characterized by a thriving premium private healthcare sector and a patient demographic with strong purchasing power that actively seeks personalized, cutting-edge medical innovations.
Sacha Loiseau, Ph.D., Chairman and CEO of Mauna Kea Technologies commented: “The international expansion of Cellvizio and the CellTolerance test for food intolerances is gaining momentum, following our successful entries into Switzerland and the United Kingdom in the first quarter. The UAE and Turkey are highly promising markets for CellTolerance, where personalized medicine is a major priority and IBS and suspected food intolerance represents a critical public health challenge with some of the highest prevalence rates in the world. With CellTolerance, we are bringing a concrete solution to millions of patients who have been caught in a cycle of diagnostic uncertainty.”
