Mahidol University has achieved success in developing a product to treat cancer using Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR – T cell) therapy. The team of doctors and researchers initiated this research in 2014, achieving a milestone that has allowed the actual usage of the treatment in patients suffering from B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia who were resistant to multiple lines of chemotherapy and targeted therapies. The treatment was administered to 10 patients, both children and adults, some of whom had undergone stem cell transplantation. All 10 patients responded to the CAR-T cell therapy, leading to a 100% disease remission rate.
This research project marks the first in Thailand to conduct a clinical trial for registering a commercially produced drug. It also signifies an initial step towards achieving success in attracting medical research funding, with the aim of improving the chances for Thai and international patients to access quality healthcare. The innovative product, developed 100% by Thai researchers, has obtained patent protection both domestically and internationally due to its unique molecular structure. Its cancer cell destruction properties have shown promising results in both laboratory and animal testing. Furthermore, it can also be produced using white blood cells from a person other than the patient, increasing its potential applications.
Professor Dr. Suradej Hongeng from the Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, stated that the research initiated in 2014 has led to a successful outcome that can now be applied in 10 pediatric and adult patients. The CAR-T cell therapy not only has been utilized in B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia patients but can also be employed in B-cell lymphoma patients. In the future, Mahidol University plans to research CAR-T cell therapy for different types of cancers including myeloma, bone cancer, brain cancer, kidney cancer, and more. This means that Mahidol University has developed a previously expensive CAR-T cell therapy product at a reduced cost and has started its production domestically in a globally standardized laboratory, making it the first in ASEAN. The initial patient treatment outcomes have been satisfying, and it is expected to be available for a wider patient base in the near future. At present, the university has been approached by neighboring countries for technology transfer.
Data updated on April 19, 2023
Source: Mahidol University
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