Dr. Amit Rhakit is the Chief Medical Officer at BlueRock Therapeutics, where he focuses on cutting-edge cell therapies for Parkinson's disease. He delves into how their therapy, bemdaneprocel, restores dopamine-producing neurons, contrasting it with conventional treatments. The discussion highlights the significant benefits these advancements could have on patient quality of life. Rhakit also shares insights on the personal stories of those living with Parkinson's, emphasizing the transformative potential of innovative therapies in managing symptoms.

We love to hear from our listeners. Send us a message.Rita Johnson-Greene, COO at Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM) joined Cell & Gene: The Podcast Host, Erin Harris, on site during 2024 Meeting on the Mesa to record their discussion. Johnson-Greene shared information about the Joint Clinical Assessment (JCA) in Europe and its potential impact on cell and gene therapies, how globalization impacts patient access, an update on ARM's Grow Internship Program, as well as a few key takeaways from the event that sector professionals can anticipate impacting the CGTs in the next 12 months and beyond.Subscribe to the podcast!Apple | Spotify | YouTube

Dennis Williams, Senior Vice President of Late Stage Development at Adaptimmune, dives into the revolutionary world of TCR T-cell therapies. He shares insights on the TECELRA trial, which achieved FDA approval for Tecelra, a groundbreaking engineered T-cell therapy for solid tumors. The conversation highlights the intricacies of developing therapies for synovial sarcoma and the unique challenges in this field. Williams also compares TCR and CAR T-cell therapies, shedding light on their distinct advantages and the complexities of off-target effects in treatment.

Miguel Forte, CEO of Kiji Therapeutics and President of ISCT, shares his insights on iPSC-MSC therapy for inflammatory diseases. He discusses Kiji's innovative approach to tackling conditions like graft-versus-host disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and psoriasis through advanced clinical trials. The conversation highlights the significance of strategic funding and global collaboration in biotechnology. Forte also reflects on the opportunities presented at ARM's meeting and the importance of networking for future technological advancements.

We love to hear from our listeners. Send us a message.Carsten Linnemann, Ph.D., CEO of Neogene Therapeutics and Head of Oncology Cell Therapy Clinical Development, AstraZeneca joins Cell & Gene: The Podcast’s Erin Harris to discuss T-cell receptor (TCR) therapies for solid cancers. They talk through key challenges and opportunities in developing TCR therapies targeting neoantigens as well as the potential benefits of TCR-T therapies for cancer treatment. Linnemann shares his thoughts on the future landscape of cell therapy in oncology and beyond. Previous episodes of Cell & Gene: The Podcast have focused on TCR therapies, including Episode 50, featuring Affini-T Therapeutics’ Co-Founder, CEO, and President Dr. Jak Knowles. Be sure to check out that episode, too. https://www.cellandgene.com/doc/targeting-oncogenic-drivers-for-solid-tumor-cancers-with-affini-t-therapeutics-dr-jak-knowles-0001Subscribe to the podcast!Apple | Spotify | YouTube

We love to hear from our listeners. Send us a message.Ray Therapeutics' Co-Founder and CEO, Paul Bresge, joins Host Erin Harris to talk about optogenetics and how the company’s optogenetics approach differs from other gene therapies on the market developed to restore vision in retinal diseases like retinitis pigmentosa.Subscribe to the podcast!Apple | Spotify | YouTube

We love to hear from our listeners. Send us a message.Tessera Therapeutics' CEO, Dr. Michael Severino, joins Host Erin Harris to discuss Gene Writing, the biotech's genome engineering technology that writes therapeutic messages into the genome to treat diseases at their source. Severino discusses why delivery has always been a challenge for gene editing technologies and why Gene Writing is different when it comes to efficient delivery.Subscribe to the podcast!Apple | Spotify | YouTube

Dr. Zachary Roberts, EVP of R&D and CMO at Allogene Therapeutics, dives into the complexities of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and critiques existing CAR T therapies. He emphasizes why allogeneic approaches may offer a scalable and effective solution. The conversation highlights the advantages of allogeneic cell therapies, their impact on treatment accessibility, and the promising Phase Two Alpha-3 trial. Furthermore, Dr. Roberts discusses novel advancements in CAR T therapies and their potential applications in treating both cancer and autoimmune diseases.

We love to hear from our listeners. Send us a message.Applications (BLAs) of recent approvals and complete responses for novel products or rare diseases as well as BLAs currently under review. Benton shares information about FDA Draft Gudiances, including Platform Technology Designation Program for Drug Development: Guidance for Industry. She also provides a regulatory outlook for CGT developers.Subscribe to the podcast!Apple | Spotify | YouTube

We love to hear from our listeners. Send us a message.Debra Miller, CEO and Founder and Dr. Michael Kelly, Chief Scientific Officer at CureDuchenne talk to Host Erin Harris about the FDA approval for the expansion to the label indication for ELEVIDYS from Sarepta Therapeutics as well as how CureDuchenne works with various biotechs developing gene therapies for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Miller and Kelly also share their advice and recommendations for companies developing drugs for DMD - while much progress has been made, more innovation is needed.Subscribe to the podcast!Apple | Spotify | YouTube