Webinar : What’s Next for CAR T-Cell Immunotherapy?

cta-WEBINAR-whats-next-for-carT-cell-immunotherapy_2-compressor

What is covered in this webinar:

In the wake of FDA approval for 2 new CAR T-cells based immunotherapies, hopes are high for patients suffering from cancers of the blood. Such a promising start raises the bar for future improvements in this technology:

  • How to increase its efficiency?
  • Make it more affordable? 
  • Harness its potency to deal with solid tumors? Or combine it with other therapeutic strategies for even better results?

This webinar monitored by Rob Frederickson will review all these questions and explore the present and possible futures for CAR T cell immunotherapies with experts Pr. Bruce Levine, Dr Marcella Mauss and Dr Michel Sadelain.

Speakers

bruce-levine

Bruce Levine
Professor in Cancer Gene Therapy
Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania

michel-saedelain

Michel Sadelain
Director, Center for Cell Engineering
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

marcela-maus

Marcela Maus
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Harvard Medical School

 

 

The FDA has recently approved two new immunotherapies for cancers of the blood, ushering in a new era in the development of gene and cell therapies. The drugs, Yescarta (axicabtagene ciloleucel) and Kymriah (tisagenlecleucel), both comprise patient T-cells that have been genetically engineered to express an artificial T-cell receptor called a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR). These CARs are designed to recognize CD19 antigen on the blood tumor cells, which allows the CAR-expressing T-cell to target them for destruction. Previous clinical trials testing these agents showed striking effects in patients, leading to high rates of remission and, in many cases, complete recovery.

Patients receiving these therapies will be monitored for possible toxic side effects and durability of the treatment. Although it is important that these new drugs reach patients, it is also clear that there is much room for improvement to reduce their cost and increase their efficiency and potency. Efforts are also underway with a view to harnessing this technology to treat solid tumors, which have so far proven resistant to treatment with these agents. In this Cell Press webinar, Bruce Levine, Michel Sadelain, and Marcela Maus discuss what comes next for CAR T-cell therapy, exploring enhancements to the therapy and new approaches that combine other therapeutic interventions.