Cell and gene therapies (CGTs) are poised to transform the practice of medicine, but further advancement will require close partnerships between academic institutions and biotechnology companies, Terry Fry, MD, executive director of the Gates Institute, told a standing-room only crowd in the Torreys Peak Auditorium of Bioscience 3 on March 1.
Fry, the inaugural director of the Gates Institute, delivered the keynote address at the Colorado Bioscience Association’s “Biotech Symposium: Innovations in Cell + Gene Therapy.” The event was the CBSA’s first symposium focused specifically on cell and gene therapy, indicating a growing interest in CGTs.
“The scientists at (the University of Colorado) Anschutz Medical Campus really are brilliant in their ability to develop these ideas, but few faculty have the expertise in dealing with the regulatory and manufacturing complexity required to commercialize the therapies and ultimately deliver cures to patients,” said Fry, who is also a clinical professor of pediatric oncology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.
The symposium was held at the Fitzsimons Innovation Community campus, just steps away from the Gates Biomanufacturing Facility (GBF) in Bioscience 1. GBF provides state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities and is an integral part of the Gates Institute.
Building powerful partnerships in the field
The Gates Institute is designed to fill gaps in traditional academic infrastructure, from providing internal resources to strengthening industry partnerships. These efforts will “put CU Anschutz on the map in the field of cell and gene therapy,” Fry said.
He described the steps in a CGT product’s lifecycle, beginning with early discovery and proof of principle, where academia excels, to pre-clinical testing and investigational new drug applications, where industry partnerships become paramount. A diverse group of individuals – clinicians, doctors, researchers, regulatory experts, and a facility compliant with the Food & Drug Administration’s Good Manufacturing Practices – are key to the effort.
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