Expanded CAR-T facility set to transform access to the ‘pinnacle of personalised medicine’

Pharma News: Australia’s cutting-edge biomedical manufacturing site has undergone a remarkable expansion, empowering the nation to meet the escalating demand for CAR T-cell therapy.

The Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care, the Hon Mark Butler MP, led an entourage of dignitaries to the grand opening of the expanded facility at the prestigious Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne. This much-anticipated project, valued at a staggering $105 million, was first announced in 2019. Its fruition heralds a new era of hope for patients battling the relentless disease.

The substantial financial backing for this endeavour was made possible by a partnership between the Federal Government, contributing an impressive $80 million, and the altruistic efforts of Peter Mac and generous donors to the Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation, raising an additional $25 million to bolster cellular therapy research and patient care initiatives.

In his speech, Minister Butler emphasised the sheer magnitude of the challenge Australia faces each year, with over 160,000 citizens diagnosed with cancer and more than 19,000 grappling with the daunting diagnosis of blood cancer. Yet, amidst this harrowing reality, a beacon of hope has emerged in the form of personalised cancer treatments crafted within the walls of the Melbourne facility.

Operated by Cell Therapies, the expanded GMP-grade facility now boasts a capacity to produce up to 2,000 CAR T-cell or other cell and gene therapy patient doses annually – a staggering 400% increase from its previous capacity. However, the significance of this venture stretches beyond the numbers, as it has also brought more than 75 biomedical jobs to the region, solidifying its status as the nation’s foremost trainer for cell therapy laboratory roles.

The facility’s extension encompasses a vast expanse of 1,700 square meters, devoted to pristine lab and clean room spaces, ensuring that innovative cellular immunotherapies can be nurtured and refined to their full potential.

Peter Mac Chief Executive, Professor Shelley Dolan, hailed the completion of this transformative manufacturing expansion as a momentous stride forward for cancer patients.

“With the Federal Government’s support, we are delivering on our vision for a world-class cellular immunotherapy centre in Australia and based at Peter Mac,” Prof Dolan said.

“The expanded manufacturing site has the necessary scale to provide CAR T-cell and other emerging cellular therapies to a growing number of patients in Australia and our region, and to support the rapid advances in related clinical and discovery-based research,” he added.

Director of the Centre of Excellence in Cellular Immunotherapy, Professor Simon Harrison, said “CAR T-cell therapy represents the pinnacle of personalised medicine as it involves collecting a patient’s own immune cells, re-engineering these cells so they recognise cancer, and infusing these re-engineered cells back into the patient.”

Already, these therapies have revolutionised the treatment of aggressive blood cancers, and their potential to do the same for solid tumours offers a glimmer of hope for millions worldwide.

Associate Professor Dominic Wall, Acting Chief Executive of Cell Therapies, underscored the significance of onshore manufacturing capabilities, particularly in the wake of global unrest and pandemics that have exposed the fragility of supply chains.

“These expanded facilities at Peter Mac are now on par with only a handful of sites globally and combined with a highly specialised workforce, mean we have the ability to make more of these cutting-edge treatments locally, rather than importing them, and to even export these products,” he said.

Construction of this expanded biomedical marvel and the dedicated clinical unit has been a testament to perseverance and collaboration, nestled within the impressive Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre building. The unwavering support from Plenary Health, Honeywell, and building contractor Minicon Construction has been instrumental in bringing this ambitious project to life.

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