Hey al-black, we must be on the same wavelength, especially in light of the posts that Hottod, Megamutts and Brighthope posted re the state of biotech and M&A, etc.... because I spent a bit of time this morning mulling over OmniCAR and when it could conceivably become part of immunotherapy furniture. The "Zero for Childhood Cancer Precision Medicine Program" is based on early genomic analysis to diagnose primary and readily mutating cancer in kids. Its fanastic and is providing real breakthrough solutions for kids with cancer.... BUT the program leads practictioners to having to search for the appropriate drugs that are on the market (SOC in other words). One can only but assume that most treatments involve chemo and/or radiation. How much more fantastic would it be if the kid's oncologists were able to treat their young patients with immunotherapy and immunotherapy that incorporates OmniCAR? Personalised medicine that is kind to the sufferer without the issues that chemo inflicts or the side effects immunotherapy has yet to overcome?
The conundrum that some of us must mull over is: What is the realistic or feasible circustances and timeline in which OmniCAR can be rolled out? Its stated that small companies do get acquired at the pre-clinical stage. Its also clear that Thermo Fisher values collaboration highly and is on a mission to provide the standardisation immnuno-oncology desperately needs in order to provide scaleable and cost-effective solutions in a closed-automated engineered cell manufacturing system.
Anyway, here is an aritcle which includes a 10-min talk from Betty Woo, PhD, VP and GM of CGT at Thermo Fisher Scientific, October 22, 2021 -- on the second day of the Cell & Gene Meeting on the Mesa:
https://www.scienceboard.net/index.aspx?sec=ser&sub=def&pag=dis&ItemID=3447"We are all trying to find that secret sauce that's going to yield robust, safe outcomes for patients," Woo responded, when asked about obstacles in the industry. She cited standardization and collaboration as the top challenges.
"While standardization, partnership, and digitization are challenges facing the industry", Woo said, "they are also achievable common goals."
Fast-forward less than a year later and Thermo FIsher sign an R&D Agreement with PTX! And, here is the ann (if anyone has forgotten the details):-
I started underlying and boxing statements, but then realised every statement is highly relevant and significanct. You'd agree, al-black? What you have highlighted (in context with both the ann and the article about the hub in Singapore that was recently released by TFS which Betty Spoke about in an aritcle (that also quotes Rebecca Lim on the PTX collab program), really is significant information!
The program is what may have brought forward our clinical trial timeline for commencement from next year to mid this year. Bet our bottom dollar that TFS wants this fast tracked!
