Revolutionary Cancer Treatment Could Transform Patient Care by 2027

A groundbreaking cancer treatment developed in Wellington, New Zealand, has the potential to offer long-term remission for patients with advanced cancer, with public access possibly available by 2027. BioOra Limited, a biotech company partly owned by the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, is preparing to produce CAR T-cell therapy, a revolutionary treatment that has already shown promising results in clinical trials.

The therapy, which modifies a patient’s immune cells to identify and attack cancer, has become a standard treatment for certain blood cancers in countries like Australia. However, it remains unavailable in both public and private healthcare systems in New Zealand. BioOra aims to change this landscape by establishing a high-tech manufacturing facility in Christchurch, designed to produce the therapy efficiently and safely.

John Robson, managing director of BioOra, expressed concerns about the pace of public system approvals, emphasizing that delays could cost lives and hinder the company’s growth. “We’re kind of on this knife edge of, will they go fast enough for us?” Robson stated, adding that timely support from health officials is crucial. He noted that if public access does not materialize by Q1 of 2027, the treatment may instead be offered through private healthcare providers.

CAR T-cell therapy involves harvesting a patient’s immune cells, genetically modifying them to target cancer cells, and reinfusing them into the patient’s bloodstream. In a recent phase 1 clinical trial conducted by the Malaghan Institute, over half of the patients with lymphoma who had exhausted other treatment options achieved cancer clearance within months. The trial also reported significantly lower rates of serious side effects compared to other commercial therapies available internationally.

BioOra, a spin-out company from the Malaghan Institute, is currently producing CAR T-cell therapy from its Wellington location while raising funds to support its Christchurch facility, which is expected to be operational by the end of 2026. Robson indicated that the facility will create approximately 45 to 50 jobs in Christchurch and aims to manufacture enough therapy for 160 patients in its first year of operations, scaling to over 300 patients in the second year.

Securing public access to the treatment hinges on government funding. Robson pointed out that the costs associated with CAR T-cell therapy in New Zealand would be significantly lower than the current prices of approximately $1 million in Australia and the United States. He emphasized that the focus should be on the treatment’s safety and effectiveness, rather than solely the price.

BioOra intends to contribute a substantial portion of its profits back to the Malaghan Institute to further research and develop additional CAR T-cell therapies. Future treatments may target a range of conditions, including childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and other types of blood cancers.

The Malaghan Institute is actively fundraising to support the ongoing phase 2 trial, which is expected to cost over $17 million. This funding effort is separate from BioOra’s financing, which has included a recent capital funding round raising $15 million and aims to secure an additional $30-45 million in the next phase.

The New Zealand government is also considering new legislation, the Medical Products Bill, which would create more flexible approval pathways for innovative treatments like CAR T-cell therapy. Nicola Hill, acting chief executive of the Cancer Control Agency, noted that this legislation is anticipated to be introduced in 2023, with a potential go-live date in 2030.

As BioOra continues to navigate the complexities of regulatory approvals and funding, the company remains focused on its mission to provide safe and effective cancer treatment options for New Zealand patients. With the right support, this innovative therapy could redefine cancer care in the region and potentially establish New Zealand as a leader in the field of immunotherapy.