Next Question with Katie Couric A CAR T Revolution: Allogene is Bringing Lifesaving Cancer Treatment to More Patients
Nov 24, 2025
Dr. Zachary Roberts, Chief Medical Officer at Allogene Therapeutics and an expert in immunology, sheds light on the revolutionary potential of allogeneic CAR T-cell therapy. He discusses the triumphs of CAR T in treating blood cancers and the daunting barrier of patient access, with only 20% receiving treatment. Roberts unveils how 'off-the-shelf' therapies, using donor T-cells, promise to bypass manufacturing hurdles. He also highlights the innovative Alpha-3 trial, aiming to treat high-risk patients earlier for better outcomes.
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Early Passion For Cancer Immunology
- Zachary Roberts describes becoming fascinated by how cells go from normal to cancerous from a very young age.
- He focused early on how the immune system interacts with cancer, which guided his career into immunotherapy.
Chemo's Double-Edged Nature
- Chemotherapy kills rapidly dividing cells but also harms healthy tissues, causing severe side effects.
- Targeted therapies and better supportive care have improved tolerability and outcomes over time.
Three Pillars Of Cancer Care
- Immunotherapy acts on the immune system, especially T cells, rather than directly targeting cancer genes.
- Roberts frames cancer care as three pillars: chemo, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.