On May 23rd, 2024, Aeterna Health was honored to participate in the BEYOND EXPO 2024 held in Macau, China. Our Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Afsar Ahmed, delivered a compelling keynote presentation, showcasing our cutting-edge advancements in immune cell therapeutics.
Highlights from Dr. Afsar Ahmed’s Presentation
Emerging Trends in Immune Cell Therapy
Dr. Ahmed highlighted the rapid growth and potential of immune cell therapies, noting the significant increase in clinical trials, from 12 in 2012 to over 1200 currently. This exponential growth underscores the global interest and investment in these novel treatments.
Market Projections
The market for cancer immunotherapies is expected to expand significantly. For instance, the market value for CAR-T cell therapy, a type of immune cell therapy, is projected to grow from USD 7.5 billion in 2023 to USD 45 billion by 2033, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 26.5%.
Challenges and Innovations
Despite the promise of immune cell therapies, challenges such as side effects, low efficacy against solid tumors, and lengthy manufacturing processes persist. Dr. Ahmed introduced our novel iCell technology, a new version of CAPRI cells, which addresses these issues by enhancing anti-cancer properties, reducing Th17 cells, and elevating central memory T cells.
Clinical Impact and Future Directions
Aeterna Health’s iCells have significantly improved patient outcomes, including increased survival rates in non-small cell lung cancer patients. Our ongoing research aims to extend these benefits to other cancers, autoimmune diseases, and immune-boosting applications.
Dr. Ahmed’s presentation underscored the need for a versatile and combinatorial approach to cancer immunotherapy. Our iCell technology, with its quick manufacturing process and physiological compatibility, is poised to meet the future demands of immune cell therapeutics.