2019-04-02
The era of gene and cell therapy treatments is here!
Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs) is the EMA classification for medical products containing genes or cells – a new generation of medicines. ATMPs have the potential to offer new options for patients with currently untreatable diseases. Patients in Sweden have already received gene/cell-based treatments for cancer as well as gene therapies for Spinal Muscular Atrophy and Retinitis Pigmentosa, and there are many more diseases being targeted.
ATMP Sweden 2019, held at AstraZeneca in Gothenburg, Sweden, on 4th April, brings together Sweden’s cell and gene therapy product industry in an effort to foster collaboration, innovation and knowledge exchange towards more efficient treatments for patients.
Regina Fritsche-Danielson, Senior Vice President and Head of Early Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism, R&D BioPharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, says “We are looking forward to hosting the second Swedish ATMP Conference at our Gothenburg site. Cell and gene therapies have huge therapeutic potential and are a key strategic focus for AstraZeneca. Bringing together key experts to discuss the future of these platforms will help facilitate collaborative opportunities and support specialist life sciences innovation in the Nordic region.”
Jukka Lausmaa, Centre Director for the Vinnova funded Centre for Advanced Medical Products (CAMP) says “This event represents the commitment of Swedish companies, research organizations and healthcare to work together to bring new options to suffering patients. We have already seen remarkable results from these collaborations, including eradication of tumours from terminal malignant melanoma patients. Through these types of networks we know there are more exciting treatments to come”.
Anders Lindahl, a Professor and medical doctor at Sahlgrenska Hospital who has been providing cellular therapy for cartilage damage over 20 years says “We have seen long term excellent clinical results in patients treated with our cartilage cell therapy technology. The emerging ATMP technologies now entering clinical trials will be able to adress unmet clinical need in patients we see in our healthcare.”
Background ATMP
The ATMP legislation was introduced in 2007 to ensure that novel gene and cell therapies were produced and administered with a focus on patient safety and product reliability. The legislation ensures gene and cell therapy products follow a similar regulatory route to conventional pharmaceuticals whereby pre-clinical safety testing, GMP manufacture and clinical trials are mandatory.
Background ATMP Sweden 2019
ATMP Sweden 2019 is run as part of the Swelife-ATMP project within the strategic innovation program Swelife, a common investment of Vinnova, Formas and the Swedish Energy Agency (Contract no. 2017-02453). Co-organisers for 2019 are the Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE), Gothenburg University, AstraZeneca, Karolinska University Hospital and Gothia Forum.
Contact
For more information on ATMP Sweden 2019, CAMP or Swelife-ATMP please contact;
Heather Main – Communications
Email
+46 72-468 20 88