chimeric antigen receptor T cells

Cell and gene therapies have seen record growth due to their potential to address the underlying causes of genetic and acquired diseases. Non-viral delivery methods are increasing in popularity due to their safety, cost-effectiveness, reduction in manufacturing time, and flexibility compared to viral vector delivery methods. Electroporation is a simple, broadly applicable method capable of delivering molecules to a wide range of cell types for either cell or gene therapy. This article outlines the top advantages of using electroporation in cell and gene therapy and why it might be a good approach for your own research group.

While the FDA has approved Abecma, the first CAR-T cell therapy in its class, regulatory approval is just the beginning for cell and gene therapies. Such therapies’ safety and financial viability rest on a robust manufacturing and quality control program with the flexibility to scale up and out. Droplet Digital PCR is a sensitive biopharmaceutical quality control tool, offering absolute quantification of nucleic acids and other molecules in a sample.

Successful chimeric antigen receptor- (CAR-) T cell therapy requires a target antigen that is unique to cancer cells. But what happens when there are no unique antigens? Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center addressed this problem by replacing healthy non-target cells with genetically modified versions lacking the CAR-T cell target. Their results, published in PNAS, may provide a new avenue for treatment of some types of cancer.

Many patients with treatment-resistant blood cancers have found new hope in chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy. But generation of CAR-T cells at clinical scale can be challenging. Find out how the Gene Pulser Xcell Electroporation System can be used to reduce costs and risks associated with clinical-scale CAR-T cell production, while maintaining GMP compliance.