The premise is straightforward: modify a patient's immune cells to recognize and destroy cancer cells, leading to the promise of deeper, more durable responses for patients with life-threatening diseases. Although this therapy has faced substantial development, manufacturing, and logistical challenges in the past, recent clinical trials have shown significant progress in bringing CAR-T therapy to patients in a meaningful way. This begs the question:
How close are we to fulfilling the promise of a “cure” for patients with cancer? The short answer: not yet, but we are much closer than we were even a decade ago.
Recently, Kite Pharma released results for axicabtagene ciloleucel, also known as Yescarta, that offers a glimpse of the progress made from a decade of research and funding into cell and gene therapy. The ZUMA-7 trial of axicabtagene ciloleucel (Yescarta) reported a remarkable improvement in overall survival for patients with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) compared to traditional treatment options: a 2.5x increase in individuals alive at 2 years post-treatment, along with a 4x increase in event free survival over the standard of care.
This exciting development in CAR-T therapy is a clear sign that we are making progress in bringing innovative treatments to patients in need, but is also a window into the work that is still to be done: a 4x increase in event free survival translates to roughly 8 months…still a long way off from the promise of a “cure” but surely a sign of progress in the ongoing fight against cancer. But, along with improvements in outcomes, there are also improvements in infrastructure: an improvement in turnaround time for production (19 days, as compared to 25 days in 2020), critical when considering the rapid progression of the disease Yescarta is meant to treat: diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). And health systems are responding: even a traditionally conservative healthcare system like the NHS in the UK is recommending Yescarta for routine use for patients.
So yes, there is reason for optimism, but there is still much work to be done. Here at IDEA Pharma, we are proud to be part of the movement of bringing more great medicines to more patients. Together, with the brightest minds in BioPharma, we can make a real difference in the lives of cancer patients around the world.
Jonathon Lee is a Consultant and Global Medical Strategist with IDEA Pharma, operating out of London, UK. He is a US-trained Doctor of Physical Therapy, Board-Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist, Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists, and an alumnus of the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School. Connect with IDEA Pharma and Jonathon on LinkedIn to talk innovation in drug development, healthcare, and beyond.
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