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The next-generation in vivo chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) technology is advancing rapidly, with industry experts predicting it could cut treatment costs by up to 90%, reducing expenses from hundreds of thousands of dollars to a much more affordable range.
“CAR-T therapies are transitioning from ex vivo production to in vivo generation,” commented an investor during a recent forum at the second China Cell and Gene Therapy Conference. “This shift has become a key focus for both investors and the industry.”
While CAR-T technology has shown outstanding success in treating blood cancers that historically lacked effective cures, its high price and complicated manufacturing process have hindered widespread use.
“Traditional CAR-T involves extracting a patient’s immune cells—genetic modification outside the body—and then reinfusing them,” explained Li Zonghai, founder of a leading biotech company. “This ‘living drug’ cannot be produced on a large scale as easily as conventional medicines, driving the cost of a single treatment well over a million yuan.”
In contrast, the in vivo approach eliminates the need for cell extraction. Instead, it involves injecting a vector—such as a virus or lipid nanoparticle—containing the CAR gene directly into the patient’s body. This method “re-engineers” the T cells inside the patient, empowering them to identify and attack cancer cells.
“The cost is projected to decline to just a tenth of current prices, making it much more accessible,” stated a professor from a leading university’s hematology department based on initial results from clinical trials of the in vivo method.
Traditional CAR-T treatments typically take between one and three weeks from blood draw to reinfusion, a waiting period many patients cannot endure. The in vivo approach simplifies this process to just one or two intravenous injections, with effects observable in as little as three days.
Several Chinese biotech firms are now racing to develop in vivo CAR-T solutions, utilizing mainly viral and non-viral vectors. Thanks to these technological advancements, patients might only need one shot—a standard injection—to receive effective, long-lasting cell therapy.
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