Queensland launches first regional CAR T-cell treatment centre

Pharma News: Gilead Sciences and Lymphoma Australia have welcomed the opening of Australia’s first regional CAR T-cell treatment centre at the Townsville University Hospital in Far North Queensland.

Queensland is currently the only state in Australia to have a CAR T treatment centre in both a metropolitan and regional area.

“This is a great first step towards more equitable access to CAR T for Australians living away from existing treatment centres,” said Sharon Millman, CEO of Lymphoma Australia.

“We’d love to see other states and territories certified and able to offer CAR T treatment to eligible patients as soon as possible to reduce the significant burden caused by travel and temporary relocation.”

In Australia, CAR T Treatment Centres are currently located in Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth. They include Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, the Peter McCallum Cancer Centre and the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, Royal Prince Alfred and Westmead Hospitals in Sydney and Fiona Stanley Hospital in Perth.

Gilead echoed Lymphoma Australia’s support for the new treatment centre and their call for continued efforts to ensure greater equity in access to CAR T.

“We believe Australians living with blood cancers who are eligible for CAR T should have an option to receive treatment as close to their home as possible, particularly as this highly specialised treatment requires remaining near the hospital for several weeks,” stated Jaime McCoy, General Manager, Gilead Sciences Australia and New Zealand.

She further added, “We remain committed to working with governments, patient advocacy groups and the clinical community to establish much needed additional CAR T treatment centres, particularly in SA, ACT, Tasmania and the NT where disappointingly there are no centres able to give treatment at all, meaning that patients must then relocate interstate for a period of time.”

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