KFSHRC Successfully Produces the First Therapeutic T-Cells in the Kingdom
23 Junio 2024 - 9:40AM
KFSHRC Successfully Produces the First Therapeutic T-Cells in the
Kingdom
King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSHRC) has
successfully produced CAR T-cells internally for cancer treatment.
This breakthrough has reduced the cost of treatment from 1.3
million SAR to approximately 250,000 SAR 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.
The announcement of this milestone, which
further solidifies KFSHRC's position as a leader in specialized
healthcare, was made during the opening of the Advanced Therapies
Forum held this Sunday morning. The forum aims to expand the number
of clinical trials in T-cell therapy and gene therapy, providing
patients in the Kingdom with access to these novel treatments and
offering industrial partners the opportunity to explore clinical
research initiatives at KFSHRC.
Prior to the internal production of the
treatment, 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
centres, and subsequent re-shipping back to the hospital, often
resulting in potential delays in treatment access and prolonged
patient suffering.
This accomplishment is the result of seamless
collaboration between various departments within the hospital,
housed in an internal T-cell manufacturing centre equipped with
advanced bioreactors and cell processing units. These adhere to
strict regulatory standards to ensure the quality and safety of
therapeutic products, 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.
T-cell therapy is one of the latest developments
in cancer treatment, involving the modification of a patient's
immune cells to recognize and destroy cancer cells. The cells are
extracted from the patient's blood, genetically modified in
manufacturing centres, 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.
It is noteworthy that King Faisal Specialist
Hospital & Research Centre has been ranked first in the Middle
East and Africa and 20th globally in the list of the world’s top
250 Academic Medical Centres for the second consecutive year and
recognized as the most valuable healthcare brand in the Kingdom and
the Middle East, according to the 2024 Brand Finance rankings.
Additionally, in the same year, it was ranked among the world's
best 250 hospitals by Newsweek magazine.
For further information, please
contact:Mr. Essam AlZahrani, Acting Head of Media Affairs,
0555254429Mr. Abdullah Alown, Media Coordination Officer,
0556294232
Photos accompanying this announcement are available
at:https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7056c9cb-8529-4193-8b16-61fe11e95198https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/781f2c62-26af-4ec0-a49a-60344dc7abce