Riyadh: King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSHRC) has achieved a significant milestone in cancer treatment by successfully producing CAR T-cells internally, a KFSHRC press release said.
This breakthrough has reduced the cost of treatment from SAR1.3 million to around SAR250,000 per treatment, making it available to patients within 14 days.
This achievement overcomes all cost and shipping challenges, alleviating patient suffering by providing timely treatment and supporting national efforts to localize biotechnological industries.
This milestone was announced during this morning’s opening of the Advanced Therapies Forum. The forum aims to increase clinical trials in T-cell and gene therapy, providing patients in the Kingdom with access to these novel treatments. It also offers industrial partners the opportunity to explore clinical research initiatives at KFSHRC.
According to the release, before the treatment was internally produced, the production period ranged from 21 to 28 days due to
manufacturing outside the Kingdom. This subjected the process to numerous logistical challenges and supply chain disruptions, including cryopreservation, shipping to external manufacturing centers, and subsequent re-shipping back to the hospital, often resulting in potential delays in treatment access and prolonged patient suffering.
The achievement was made possible through collaboration between different hospital departments. KFSHRC has an internal T-cell manufacturing center equipped with advanced bioreactors and cell processing units, which adhere to strict regulatory standards to ensure the quality and safety of therapeutic products. It is preceded by comprehensive staff training programs on the principles and techniques of T-cell manufacturing. In the current phase, the internally produced T-cells will be offered to patients as part of a clinical trial at KFSHRC.
The release said T-cell therapy is one of the latest developments in cancer treatment. It involves modifying a patient’s immune cells to rec
ognize and destroy cancer cells. The cells are extracted from the patient’s blood, genetically modified in manufacturing centers, and then re-injected into the patient’s body to target and destroy cancer cells.
“This achievement is part of KFSHRC’s strategy to develop advanced therapies and increase clinical research opportunities, ensuring the delivery of the best possible healthcare for all patients, in line with the hospital’s commitment to enhancing healthcare quality driven by innovation and excellence,” the release read.
Source: Saudi Press Agency