The number is up from just over 250 one year ago.
The Cancer Research Institute recently reported updated information on cell therapies in development for the treatment of cancer. In the 12-month period from March 2018 to March 2019, the number of cell therapies in development for the treatment of cancer nearly quadrupled from 258 to 1011. The number of different targets also rose by 20 to 124, but CD19 remains the most popular. Currently, there are 762 active clinical trials, with the majority taking place in the United States or China. Of the cell therapies at the preclinical stage, nearly 250 are targeting solid tumors, which is a new area for the industry.
While the focus on cancer therapies is good news for patients, regulators are concerned about the rapid growth that has been occurring. It has led to intense rivalries and competition for trial participants –– issues that are expected to increase as more therapies enter the pipeline.
