CHARLES RIVER LABORATORIES GLOBAL SHOWCASE PRESENTATION Cryopreserved Cellular Starting Material and Effective Donor Management Strategies Can Enhance Scalability and Efficiency of Immune Cell Therapies
Thursday, June 1, 2023 06:15 PM - 06:45 PM
Global Showcase Theater
Global Showcase Presentation
Cryopreserved Cellular Starting Material and Effective Donor Management Strategies Can Enhance Scalability and Efficiency of Immune Cell Therapies
Presenter
Wassim Basheer PhD, Senior Product Manager-Cell Solutions, Charles River Laboratories, USA
Positive clinical trial results, particularly in cancer immunotherapy, have prompted a surge in the number of cell and gene therapies (C>) headed towards commercialization. While fresh leukapheresis products have been the standard source material for such therapies, limited overall product stability can significantly impact quality. This also places a major strain on the supply chain, thus limiting flexibility and scalability of therapy development. Apheresis and cell collection centers, as well as C> developers, must find solutions to handle this large upswing in demand for sourcing reliable and stable cellular starting materials. Implementing cell sourcing strategies such as consistent processing and the use of cryopreserved isolated cells as starting material, in conjunction with effective donor recruitment and management, can certainly mitigate product and process variability and improve the outcome of successful C>s. In a recent study done at Charles River Laboratories, we report that isolated immune cells, when collected from highly characterized donors then processed, cryopreserved, and stored properly in a timely manner, can be used effectively as starting material for the development of a CAR-T. Adhering to these sourcing strategies can help mitigate risk and pave the way towards successful scale-up and commercialization of C>s.
Presenter
Wassim Basheer PhD, Senior Product Manager-Cell Solutions, Charles River Laboratories, USA
Positive clinical trial results, particularly in cancer immunotherapy, have prompted a surge in the number of cell and gene therapies (C>) headed towards commercialization. While fresh leukapheresis products have been the standard source material for such therapies, limited overall product stability can significantly impact quality. This also places a major strain on the supply chain, thus limiting flexibility and scalability of therapy development. Apheresis and cell collection centers, as well as C> developers, must find solutions to handle this large upswing in demand for sourcing reliable and stable cellular starting materials. Implementing cell sourcing strategies such as consistent processing and the use of cryopreserved isolated cells as starting material, in conjunction with effective donor recruitment and management, can certainly mitigate product and process variability and improve the outcome of successful C>s. In a recent study done at Charles River Laboratories, we report that isolated immune cells, when collected from highly characterized donors then processed, cryopreserved, and stored properly in a timely manner, can be used effectively as starting material for the development of a CAR-T. Adhering to these sourcing strategies can help mitigate risk and pave the way towards successful scale-up and commercialization of C>s.
