a16z Podcast Building the First CAR T Company
Feb 7, 2020
In this engaging discussion, Usman "Oz" Azam, CEO of Tmunity and former head of Cell and Gene Therapies at Novartis, dives deep into CAR-T therapy's revolutionary impact on cancer treatment. He unveils the intricacies of engineering T cells to combat solid tumors and contrasts this innovation with traditional therapies. The conversation also touches on the importance of scaling production and overcoming ethical challenges in biotech, providing valuable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs in the field.
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CAR T Therapy Explained
- CAR T therapy involves re-engineering a patient's T cells, a type of white blood cell.
- These modified T cells are designed to target and destroy cancer cells like a “GPS system” for the body.
Leukemia Patient Journey
- Oz Azam describes the patient journey of a child with leukemia, from diagnosis and initial chemotherapy to relapse and CAR T treatment.
- He explains the process of apheresis, cell engineering, infusion, and the potential for durable remission.
Scaling CAR T Therapy
- Scaling CAR T therapy requires significant infrastructure and a full-stack approach.
- Oz Azam emphasizes the importance of owning the entire process, from manufacturing to patient management.