Researchers at University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center and a Biotech Start-Up Company Streamline Way to Manufacture CAR T-cells for Immunotherapy Treatment in 24 Hours

Researchers at University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center and a Biotech Start-Up Company Streamline Way to Manufacture CAR T-cells for Immunotherapy Treatment in 24 Hours

A simplified method for producing CAR T-cells for immunotherapy treatment in just 24 hours has been devised by researchers at University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center and a biotech start-up business.

Article Summary

This ground breaking new development will expedite the delivery of CAR T therapy to those who need it most. Researchers stated that the rapidly manufactured CAR T-cells appear to be more potent than cells produced conventionally.

Koen van Besien, MD, PhD, UH Seidman Cancer Center Hematology Chief, Director of Wesley Center for Immunotherapy, and the Don C. Dangler Chair in Stem Cell Research said that “This work by UH scientists is of fundamental importance for the field of CAR T-cell therapy and for development of such products in other diseases such as acute leukemia, or – in the future – some solid tumors.”

In November, UH Seidman Cancer Center is launching a Phase 1 clinical trial of the rapid manufacture CAR T-cell product in conjunction with the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center at Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Clinic. The trial will test the safety of what are called UF-KURE19 cells in adult patients with relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma. However, if the trial is successful, the research team hopes to expand testing of rapidly manufactured CAR-T products to patients with other types of cancer.

(Source: University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, 19th October 2022)