The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has announced the launch of its Institute for Cell Therapy Discovery & Innovation, aiming to revolutionize cell therapy development for various diseases. The institute will leverage MD Anderson's existing clinical and research strengths to develop impactful cell therapies for cancer, autoimmune diseases, infections, and other conditions.
Institute Goals and Leadership
The institute is led by Katy Rezvani, M.D., Ph.D., and is supported by over $80 million in philanthropic and institutional funding. Rezvani emphasized the importance of expanding cell therapy options, stating, "Through our discoveries, we aim to provide many more patients with effective cell therapies that are available as off-the-shelf treatment options, limiting the need for lengthy hospital stays and associated costs."
Cell Therapy Approach
Cell therapies, often called 'living therapies,' involve using immune cells from patients or healthy donors. These cells are engineered to enhance their ability to detect and eliminate cancer cells, infected cells, or other abnormal cells. The institute will integrate MD Anderson’s research ecosystem to accelerate the development of these therapies from preclinical studies to clinical trials.
Prior Achievements
MD Anderson has a history of cell therapy research, including contributions to the development of six FDA-approved CAR T-cell therapy products targeting CD19 and BCMA for B-cell lymphomas, leukemias, and multiple myeloma. They were also the first to advance CAR natural killer (NK) cells into clinical studies for lymphoid malignancies.
Research Focus
Ongoing research includes adoptive T cell receptor (TCR) therapy targeting MAGE-A4, which has shown clinically significant results in Phase I trials for multiple solid tumor types. Novel CD70-targeting CAR T-cell therapy has also demonstrated promising early results in patients with metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Additionally, research focuses on improving tumor specificity and enhancing NK cell activity through dual-targeting CAR NK cells and CD28 costimulation.
Collaborative Efforts
The institute will collaborate with external researchers, biotechnology firms, and pharmaceutical companies to expedite the development process. Giulio Draetta, M.D., Ph.D., chief scientific officer at MD Anderson, noted, "By integrating with experts across the research and clinical enterprise, the Institute for Cell Therapy Discovery & Innovation will be able to create important new treatments, tailored to unmet patient needs, in ways only possible here."
Expansion Beyond Cancer
While cancer remains a primary focus, the institute will also explore cell therapies for autoimmune diseases and infections. Cell therapies could potentially improve treatments for autoimmune diseases like Graves’ disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis. Rezvani’s team has also developed cell therapies showing promise in treating brain infections and viral infections post-stem cell transplants.
Support and Future Directions
The institute has established an Executive Advisory Board and is prioritizing the recruitment of scientists in bioinformatics, cell therapy research, and cell engineering. A fellowship program will also be created to mentor the next generation of researchers. The institute aims to raise a total of $150 million, with current funding exceeding $80 million.
