Cell Therapy Catapult becomes the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult
New name reflects the boom in gene modified cell therapies
The Cell Therapy Catapult, the UK organisation dedicated to the growth of the UK cell and gene therapy industry by bridging the gap between scientific research and commercialisation, has changed its name to the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult.
The new name more accurately reflects the activities of the organisation, the increase in gene modified cell therapies, and the wave of direct gene therapies currently in development. Having been involved in gene, as well as cell therapies for some time, the new name reinforces the organisation's broad remit with its partners.
The Cell Therapy Catapult has been working in gene therapy for some time and I want our name to match our remit, expertise and portfolio
The Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult has already been involved in a number of gene therapy projects. Most recently it announced a collaboration with Synpromics to reduce the cost and increasing the scale and efficiency of viral vector manufacturing, which will remove a major barrier to the development of the cell and gene therapy industry. Earlier this year, the Cell Therapy Catapult, the University of Birmingham and Cancer Research Technology, the commercialisation arm of Cancer Research UK, announced a collaboration to develop a new immuno-oncology cellular therapy based on gene modifying T-cells to target solid tumours.
Other collaborations include that with King's College London to develop platform processes to improve the commercial scale production of viral vector technologies, and with Cellular Therapeutics to manufacture for the development of genetically modified T-cells for WT1-expressing blood cancer cells.
'Cell and gene therapies and their underpinning technologies offer tremendous synergies that enable us to leverage scientific advances and our multidisciplinary teams are able to use a full toolbox of technologies to accelerate clinical development. The Cell Therapy Catapult has been working in gene therapy for some time and I want our name to match our remit, expertise and portfolio,' said Keith Thompson, CEO of the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult.
