Once discarded as medical waste, cord blood is now recognized as a valuable source of stem cells that is simple to collect and store, rapidly available and is less likely to promote an immune response. Perhaps most significantly, cord blood transplant has historically not required a perfect HLA match due to the relative immaturity of…
The field of cancer immunotherapies was buoyed last year by the FDA’s approval of the first autologous CAR-T drugs on the market, Novartis’ Kymriah and Gilead’s Yescarta. But, many drug makers are already looking in a new direction — off-the-shelf, or allogeneic, CAR-T therapies. In autologous therapies, like Kymriah and Yescarta, scientists isolate T cells from…
It’s no secret that cell and gene therapies are advancing at a rapid pace. As with any new innovations, unforeseen challenges are sure to accompany. One of the challenges generating buzz lately, is the need to define standards in the industry, specifically in the areas of apheresis collection and manufacturing. So, we’re going straight to…
On May 30, Be The Match BioTherapies® brought together key cell and gene therapy professionals to discuss two big challenges that are impacting the entire industry: system capacity and the need for standardization. The main goal of this event? Brainstorm, collaborate and strategize ways to develop standards that will help to ease the current burden…
Last month, Jamie Margolis, PhD, who has been with Be The Match BioTherapies® since its inception, was promoted to Director of Product Development Operations. We spoke with her about key challenges the cell therapy industry is facing and how Be The Match BioTherapies is positioned, and growing, to help companies advance their cell or gene…
You’ve recently joined Be The Match BioTherapies full time after two years as a consultant. What is most exciting to you about your new position? We are on the cusp of a major sea change in the way we treat disease, and in the way new therapies are produced and distributed. I am thrilled to…
Access on-demand webinar > One overarching theme throughout all of the conferences we’ve attended this year has been inopportune weather. From the heavy snowfall in Atlanta, Ga., to a snowstorm in Salt Lake City, Utah, to the threat of a major Nor’easter just this past month in Boston, we seemed to bring snow wherever we…
Earlier this month, Dr. Steven Devine, a renowned blood and marrow transplant physician, joined our organization as the Be The Match BioTherapies Medical Director. He came to the organization from the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC-James). We spoke with Dr. Devine…
As Be The Match BioTherapies enters its third year, could you share what you see as some of the organization’s biggest achievements? There are three major achievements that I’d like to highlight. First, we are proud to be partnering with some truly innovative companies in the cell therapy space to help bring life-saving therapies to…