Cancer cell therapies: A promising avenue for investors in the booming cell and gene therapy market
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The market for cancer cell therapies is poised to exhibit steady growth in the upcoming years, as the global cell and gene therapy (CGT) industry continues to pique the interest of investors. Although traditional pharmaceuticals and other biologics now account for a larger share of the pharma market in terms of sales, the CGT market remains a promising investment avenue. The global cell and gene therapy market size is expected to register an impressive CAGR of 26.6% during the period spanning from 2023 to 2027, reaching a valuation of US$53,950.5 million by 2027, up from US$21,293.4 million in 2023. Over the past half-decade, the sector has witnessed a substantial CAGR of 28.0%, culminating in a market size of US$16,734.3 million in 2022.
While CAR-T cell therapy presently dominates the market, novel approaches such as the development of "off-the-shelf" options and utilization of different types of immune cells hold promise for reshaping the market landscape.
Cancer cell therapies have been making waves in the healthcare industry, offering a new avenue for cancer treatment that promises improved outcomes for patients. Despite initial limited uptake, the impact of cell therapy in cancer care is steadily growing, with biotech companies continuing to invest in ways to improve its effectiveness and accessibility.
In cell therapy, cancer cells are targeted and eliminated from the body using living cells. In CAR-T cell therapy, which is the most popular type of cell therapy used to treat cancer, immune cells are taken from a patient and genetically altered to produce chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) on their surface. These CARs are made to recognise and attach to particular cancer cells, killing them.
While CAR-T cell therapy has shown promising results in clinical trials, its use has been limited by the need for each patient's cells to be genetically modified, which can be time-consuming and costly. Biotech companies are now working on developing "off-the-shelf" options that use donor cells that are readily available and can be used to treat multiple patients.
- One such company is Allogene Therapeutics, which is developing a CAR-T cell therapy that uses donor cells rather than patient-derived cells. The company's approach involves using CRISPR gene-editing technology to remove T-cell receptors from the donor cells, making them less likely to cause an immune response in the patient receiving the treatment.
- Other biotech companies are exploring the use of different types of immune cells in cell therapy. For example, GammaDelta Therapeutics is developing a therapy that uses gamma delta T cells, a type of immune cell that is naturally present in the body and can target cancer cells. The company's therapy is currently in early-stage clinical trials.
- In addition to improving the effectiveness and accessibility of cell therapy, biotech companies are also working on developing combination therapies that use cell therapy in combination with other cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy. These combination therapies have the potential to improve outcomes for patients by targeting cancer cells through multiple mechanisms.
- Another company working on combination therapies is TCR² Therapeutics, which is developing a therapy that combines CAR-T cell therapy with a small molecule drug that activates the immune system. The company's therapy is currently in clinical trials for the treatment of solid tumors.
- In 2022, the European Union has given the green light to Ebvallo, a novel T-cell immunotherapy that uses allogeneic or off-the-shelf cells sourced from healthy donors rather than from the patient. This approach enables faster administration of treatment compared to current cell immunotherapies that rely on harvesting the patient's cells. Ebvallo was created by Atara Biotherapeutics and will be marketed by Piere Fabre in France. It has been authorized as the sole therapy for a rare type of blood cancer known as Epstein-Barr virus-positive post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (EBV+ PTLD).
- The approval of the first allogeneic cell therapy represents a significant breakthrough in the field of regenerative medicine, paving the way for the development of a range of innovative and futuristic therapies. With the success of allogeneic cell therapy for the treatment of cancer, researchers, and scientists are now looking towards other targets, such as autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis, which could benefit from this approach. The potential applications of allogeneic cell therapies are vast and varied, and as more research is conducted, new therapeutic possibilities will be revealed. As the field continues to evolve, one can expect to see a wave of new therapies that leverage the power of allogeneic cell therapies to tackle a broad range of diseases and disorders. The next few years will undoubtedly be a pivotal time for cell therapy market developers and regulators, as they work together to bring these innovative treatments to market and help patients around the world.
- Garuda Therapeutics, uses blood stem cells to provide long-lasting, easily accessible cellular medicines, the company has revealed that it has raised $62 million in its Series B fundraising round. Leading investment companies Northpond Ventures, OrbiMed Advisors, Cormorant Asset Management, and Aisling Capital led the round, which also included major investors Sectoral Asset Management, Mass General Brigham Ventures, Alexandria Venture Investments, and others. Garuda has now raised a total of $134 million with this most recent fundraising in 2023.
BioIntel360 suggests that the impact of cell therapy in cancer care is steadily growing, with biotech companies continuing to invest in ways to improve its effectiveness and accessibility. The development of "off-the-shelf" options and combination therapies has the potential to further improve outcomes for cancer patients, and the market for cancer cell therapies is expected to continue growing in the coming years.