Things are optimistic in the life sciences industry, as both venture capital Cellular therapies are reshaping the therapeutic landscape, representing one of the highest growth sectors for FDA IND applications, spurring some of the most recognized young companies, producing several high-value cancer drugs, and transforming lives. The Seattle area has led the development from the start with seminal work by Dendreon, bringing to market the first FDA-approved immunotherapy made from a patient’s own immune cells (Provenge), as well as pioneering advances in chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy by the Hutch, Seattle Children’s Research Institute and Juno Therapeutics.
Today, the region remains at the forefront, supporting the development and launch of two commercially available CAR T cell products, Breyanzi (Juno/Celgene/Bristol Myers Squibb) and Abecma (2seventy bio (formerly bluebird bio)/Celgene/Bristol Myers Squibb), and delivering innovative cell therapies to put more patients on the path to a cure. Young cellular therapy companies with roots in Seattle such as, Sana, 2seventy bio, Umoja, GentiBio, Notch Therapeutics, Century Therapeutics, Gilead, Sonoma Bio, Lyell, among others promise to usher in the next era of innovation. The science is established. The patient benefits are real. The possibilities are endless.
Speakers include:
-Charlotte Schubert, PhD, Reporter, GeekWire – Moderator
-Tina Albertson, PhD, Chief Medical Officer and Head of Development, Lyell Immunopharma
-Alicia Collins, Executive Director, Bristol Myers Squibb
-Heidi Hagen,Chief Technology Officer, Sonoma Biotherapeutics
-Michael Jensen, MD, Vice President and Chief Therapeutics Officer, Seattle Children’s Health System