Strategic report into future of T-cell cancer therapies released

The investment research and advisory company, Edison Investment Research, has released an independent and detailed analyst report into T-cell cancer therapies, highlighting the potential and limitations of current CAR-T approaches for most tumour types.

This free report is a result of the rapidly advancing landscape within this therapeutic area — Novartis’ Kymriah was recently approved by the FDA and a second CAR-T cell therapy from Kite Pharma predicted to be approved soon. It provides analysis on current events in CAR-T and the available technologies, solutions and predictions for the future of these therapies.

The report is broken into two parts: the first reviews the challenges and potential of the different approaches in T-cell therapy including current CAR-T and other T-cell based approaches; the second gives an in depth balanced review of the various technologies looking at their potential but also their risks and uncertainties.

“Investors have understandably focused onto the dramatic success and rapid US approval of Kymriah but investors and developers need to take a wider and longer-term perspective and look at other cancers and T-cell technologies as well. This report gives an intelligible route map based on a deep understanding of the technical fundamentals,” said Neil Shah, director of research, Edison Investment Research. “Investors and those right across the market confused by the blizzard of clinical detail and needing an understandable and independent perspective should read this report.”

A number of key conclusions are detailed in the report, including the fact that there is currently a mismatch between investment and medical need within this therapeutic area. The reasoning for this is that CAR-T technology is very hard to adapt to attack solid cancers, which are difficult to attack. Options for extending T-cell therapy to treat solid tumours include NKR CAR T-cell therapy and T-cell receptor (TCR) approaches, which may advance rapidly if they show promising results. Additionally, combing T-cell therapies with checkpoint inhibitors — as already used to treat lung and skin cancers — and BiTEs may be options.

“The challenge for T-cell therapy is to break out from the current limited niche to deliver real therapeutic change in the bigger blood cancers and especially in solid cancer therapy. That is where most of the patients are and the most medical needs arise. There are major questions as to whether these T-cell therapies work beyond their current limited niche and if they can be made affordable,” said Dr John Savin, lead author “The entire market is still learning about T-cell therapies so decisions and outcomes are uncertain, which is why Edison has dedicated resources to examine all available evidence. There are really difficult medical, commercial and logistical challenges ahead. However, the potential for major treatment advances is becoming visible and considerable opportunities are emerging.”

The report, written by two leading healthcare analysts Dr John Savin and Dr Daniel Wilkinson, is free to download.