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Italy’s Oncological Association Seeks to Reduce Cost of CAR-T Cells

Country: ITALY | Region: EUROPE | Type: Policy | Keywords: #alleanzaagainstcancer #car-t #oncology

PRICENTRIC BRIEF:

  • Italy’s oncological association, Alleanza Against Cancer (ACC), is seeking to collaborate with the pharma industry in order to implement production capacities and harmonize and automate processes, thus reducing costs related to the manufacture of CAR-T cells
  • The ACC’s statement said, “Indeed, a potential virtuous synergy between academic institutions and pharmaceutical industries would be created with the interest in reproducing the win-win collaboration model in Italy too which certainly played an important role in the development of CAR-T cells in the United States”
  • While CAR-T cells have made it possible to achieve results never before achieved in patients with relapsed or resistant acute B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia and in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a large-scale use of CAR-T therapies must overcome some hurdles such as production capacities which are lower than the demand, as well as an absence of a network to coordinate and manage the distribution of genetically modified cells in Italy, and a lack of standardization of the production processes

THE DETAILS

ROME, Italy — Italy’s oncological association, Alleanza Against Cancer (ACC), is seeking to collaborate with the pharma industry in order to implement production capacities and harmonize and automate processes, thus reducing costs related to the manufacture of CAR-T cells.

Moreover, collaboration from the pharmaceutical industry is needed to ensure that those in Italy are able to access CAR-T therapies.

The ACC’s statement said, “Indeed, a potential virtuous synergy between academic institutions and pharmaceutical industries would be created with the interest in reproducing the win-win collaboration model in Italy too which certainly played an important role in the development of CAR-T cells in the United States.”

While CAR-T cells have made it possible to achieve results never before achieved in patients with relapsed or resistant acute B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia and in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a large-scale use of CAR-T therapies must overcome some hurdles such as production capacities which are lower than the demand. 

Additionally, there is an absence of a network to coordinate and manage the distribution of genetically modified cells in Italy, as well as the lack of standardization of the production processes.

ACC was founded by the Ministry of Health currently chaired by Professor Ruggero De Maria, and was financed with ten million euros in favor of IRCCS and other selected institutions with proven qualification in the field, which belong to it and which are directly involved in planning. 

The project is coordinated by Franco Locatelli, director of the department of onco-hematology and cell and gene therapy, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital in Rome, and seeks to develop new approaches to optimize the use of genetically modified immune system cells to be redirected to the tumor target.

The project involves, under the coordination of the Alliance against Cancer:

  • Pediatric Hospital Bambino Gesù IRCCS – Rome
  • Agostino Gemelli University Polyclinic Foundation IRCCS – Rome
  • European Institute of Oncology Srl – Milan
  • Piedmont Foundation for Oncology – Candiolo
  • Scientific Institute of Romagna for the Study and Treatment of Cancer, IRST IRCCS – Meldola
  • IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital – Milan
  • IRCCS National Cancer Institute Foundation – Milan
  • Hospital Physiotherapeutic Institutes – IRCCS – National Cancer Institute Regina Elena – Rome
  • National Cancer Institute IRCCS “G. Pascale Foundation” – Naples
  • IRCCS Basilicata Oncological Reference Center – Rionero in Vulture
  • John Paul II Cancer Institute IRCCS – Bari
  • Clinical Institute Humanitas – Humanitas Mirasole SpA – Rozzano
  • Veneto Oncological Institute IRCCS – Padua
  • Aviano Oncological Reference Center IRCCS – Aviano
  • Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza Foundation – San Giovanni Rotondo
  • MolMed SpA
  • San Gerardo hospital in Monza
  • CNR Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging of Naples

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