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EASY workflow integration for GENe therapy

Project description

Improving cancer treatment access

Every year, more than 20 million people worldwide are diagnosed with cancer, and by 2050, that number is expected to surpass 35 million. Yet, despite therapeutic advancements, only 39 % of countries can provide basic cancer care. This inequality, especially between high- and low-income nations, leads to stark differences in patient outcomes. Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy offers hope for cancer treatment, but access is currently limited due to high costs and complex logistics. The EU-funded EASYGEN project aims to change this by developing an automated, modular point-of-care platform for CAR-T therapy. The aim is to optimise manufacturing and hospital workflows, thus reducing manufacturing time to under 24 hours, cutting treatment costs by 50 % and making CAR-T accessible to more patients.

Objective

More than 20 million new patients world-wide are diagnosed with cancer every year, and prediction for 2050 foresee over 35 million cancer cases, reflecting the population ageing and growth with a tremendous burden on the health care system. A global WHO survey with 115 participating countries has shown, that only 39% can cover basic cancer care management, financed as core health service. This reveals significant global inequities between high GNP and low- and middle-income countries, which is also reflected in country-specific cancer patient outcomes. Hence, there is a strong need for emerging technologies, that democratize access to cancer treatment, reduce the disparities in cancer care, and significantly reduce the burden on the healthcare workforce. Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cells are considered as cutting-edge treatment for cancer, but currently only for hematologic malignancies. And although the efficacy is very promising the number of European patients having access to CAR-T treatment is still very limited due to high costs and complex manufacturing and logistic processes.
The public private partnerhsip EASYGEN will develop an automated, modular point-of-care cell- and gene-therapy platform, that will allow for the first time hospital on-site CAR-T manufacturing. Designed as a closed, modular, one-stop solution, the device aims to reduce manufacturing time significantly to less than 24 hours and treatment costs by 50%. In a user-centric, co-creation approach, the device will be holistically integrated in a standard hospital workflow, hence empowering healthcare systems to provide CAR-T treatment in any standard hospital setting, capable of conducting leukapheresis. Its modular set-up will ensure adaptability to different ATMPs including solid tumours.
Therewith, EASYGEN will initiate a paradigm shift in the CAR-T market, paving the way to a greater democratized cancer treatment access and improving the patient’s quality of life and overall outcome.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

Keywords

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Funding Scheme

HORIZON-JU-RIA - HORIZON JU Research and Innovation Actions

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Call for proposal

(opens in new window) HORIZON-JU-IHI-2024-07-single-stage

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Coordinator

FRESENIUS SE & CO KGAA
Net EU contribution
€ 1 292 465,00
Address
ELSE-KROENER-STR 1
61352 BAD HOMBURG
Germany
Region
Hessen Darmstadt Hochtaunuskreis
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Links
Total cost
€ 2 701 180,00

Participants (15)

Partners (5)