CAR-T cell therapy in developing countries: how long should we wait?

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Immunotherapy
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) experience higher cancer burdens and lower survival rates compared to high-income nations.
• Limited access to advanced treatments like Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy contributes to disparities in cancer care.
• Nepal faces challenges in providing advanced cancer therapies to its population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of establishing CAR T-cell therapy in Nepal, a low-income country.
• To explore local manufacturing capabilities and reagent sourcing for CAR T-cell therapy.
• To reduce the cost of CAR T-cell therapy for cancer patients in LMICs.

Main Methods:

• Research into local laboratory capabilities for CAR T-cell production.
• Sourcing reagents from local or developed countries.
• Establishing a Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) grade CAR T-cell manufacturing facility.

Main Results:

• Successful research demonstrating the feasibility of local CAR T-cell production.
• Initiation of a GMP-grade manufacturing facility for clinical trials.
• Identification of technical, regulatory, and resource challenges in establishing advanced therapies in LMICs.

Conclusions:

• Local initiatives in Nepal are working to make CAR T-cell therapy more accessible and affordable.
• The Nepalese experience offers valuable insights for other developing countries aiming to implement advanced cancer treatments.
• Interdisciplinary collaboration and global support are crucial for achieving equitable access to cutting-edge medical interventions.