A successful public-private partnership bringing ATMP to market
In 2016, Strimvelis (autologous CD34+ cells transduced to express ADA) was approved in Europe to treat ADA-SCID (Severe Combined Immunodeficiency due to Adenosine Deaminase deficiency). ADA-SCID is a rare immunodeficiency and estimated to occur in about 15 patients per year in Europe.
Strimvelis is the first ex vivo gene therapy to be licensed, and its success is the result of a joint effort among different stakeholders. The gene therapy for treating ADA-SCID was originally developed in Milan by the San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), a joint venture between Fondazione Telethon (Telethon) and Ospedale San Raffaele (OSR). The development was then taken forward by GSK through a strategic collaboration formed in 2010 between GSK, OSR and Telethon. This alliance has led to the approval of Strimvelis as well as a research pipeline of more ex vivo gene therapies for treating disorders including Metachromatic Leukodystrophy (MLD) and Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome (WAS). See also: Case Study: Libmeldy (in development)
Here we collated existing information about each stage of development for Strimvelis as a guide for the research community to learn about its development process, and how the collaboration between academia and industry can overcome the many hurdles in developing new ATMPs. Read the following resources to learn more: