Many diseases are caused by genetic defects or the absence of a certain functional gene. Gene therapy can repair a patient's genetic material or shut down a disease gene. In cell-based therapies, the patient's own immune cells are genetically modified and replaced. With its own ATMP facility, UZ Leuven will be able to modify a patient's own immune cells, bringing benefits to doctors and patients.
Cell and gene therapy are already successfully used today for certain cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic diseases and rare genetic disorders. An in-house cell and gene therapy facility will offer new perspectives for patients with rare genetic disorders and cancers that are hard to treat.
Accelerate ATMP development
Cell and gene therapy drugs fall under the heading of Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs). Their production requires a specialised infrastructure with strict regulations and specifically trained staff. The development process of an ATMP is complex, which is why pharmaceutical companies are often not interested in funding experimental drugs in the early stages. Cell and gene therapy are especially important for patients in whom conventional treatments fail. They can provide a solution in diseases for which no treatments exist or for which existing treatments do not catch on. In certain cases, gene or cell therapy can even cure a disease completely. With Leuven's own production facility, immunotherapy will become much easier logistically for both doctor and patient.
Treatments with cell and gene therapy are especially important for patients in whom conventional treatments do not work.
UZ Leuven will build the new facility on Gasthuisberg Campus, together with KU Leuven and KU Leuven Research & Development. The new centre of expertise should be ready in the second half of 2025, and the manufacturing facility will meet the strict quality standards of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP). Successful tandems between committed doctors at UZ Leuven and specialised basic researchers at KU Leuven can lead to innovative therapies for an international patient population.
Bart Geers, investment manager at KU Leuven Research & Development: ‘By investing in our own ATMP facility, we are setting up a unique hub. It will allow us to support researchers, clinicians, professors and scientists to turn their project ideas into clinical applications. With a new infrastructure, we will produce advanced or experimental cell therapies to industry standards at the hospital. New therapy options will be available to patients faster.'
By taking the reins into our own hands, we can respond more quickly to new scientific discoveries
prof. dr. Paul Herijgers
Prof. dr. Paul Herijgers, CEO at UZ Leuven: 'UZ Leuven has been a pioneer in the field of rare diseases for years and has extensive expertise in the diagnosis of genetic syndromes. With a new production facility for ATMPs, doctor and researchers can develop customised therapies specific to the patient's genetic profile or disease. This opens the door to personalised treatments that are more effective and tailored to individual patients. By taking the reins into our own hands, we can respond more quickly to new scientific discoveries and take our clinical research to the next level.'