Research faces a conundrum. While the use of CAR T-cell therapy has expanded for patients, relapse rates remain high. A recent study found 57% of all patients relapsed within a year of treatment. According to Liang et al Journal of Hematology & Oncology, CD-19 specific CAR T cell therapy has significantly improved the outcome of patients with relapse/refractory diffuse large B-Cell lymphoma (R/R DLBCL), resulting in durable remissions in approximately 40% of heavily pre-treated patients. Despite these encouraging results, nearly half of the patients could not achieve durable responses after CD19-CAR T therapy, and a significant proportion of patients will eventually relapse.

Clearly, as data from a larger patient population is published, a high risk of relapse has again emerged as a formidable obstacle on the road to long-term survival.

The need for effective therapies to lessen relapse – along with the need for rapid and cost-effective manufacturing — are among the most pressing matters we face. It is not an overstatement to say we’re in need of cell therapy that ultimately doesn’t lead to more treatment.