Production facility for CAR-T cell therapy in the Netherlands

New European production facility for CAR T cell therapy in the Netherlands

Bristol Myers Squibb to set up first European CAR T cell therapy facility in Leiden Bio Science Park (Netherlands)

22/04/21     

As part of its efforts to deliver cell therapy to patients with haematological cancers in the Netherlands and the rest of Europe, Bristol Myers Squibb is setting up a brand-new CAR T cell therapy production facility in Leiden, Netherlands. This facility will be equipped with the latest technology and production equipment to develop cell therapy for patients. 

Work is currently underway on the design and planning stage of the site in Leiden Bio Science Park. Construction is due to start later this year, and we expect the facility to be completed and in use by the end of 2024. This site will be our fifth production facility across the world developing cell therapy, and our first in Europe.

CAR-T factsheet

Cell-based treatment that uses a patient's own cells opens up new possibilities in the fight against some of the hardest to treat cancers. Cell therapy involving the injection, implantation or grafting of cells to treat a disease is one of the key research areas at Bristol Myers Squibb. CAR T cell therapy, a form of immunotherapy for cancer, is now a particular focus of research.

CAR T cell therapy is short for 'Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell' therapy. A T-cell is an immune cell that can attack and eliminate malignant cancer cells. In the therapy, white blood cells are collected from a cancer patient and genetically modified in the production facility to recognise and bind to proteins from specific cancer cells. These cells are then administered to the patient in specialised centres. The genetic modification of the cells is instrumental in combating haematological cancers through the body's own T-cells. Expanding the capacity of production facilities is essential to make CAR T cell therapy available to more patients with aggressive blood cancers.