Cell Therapies: Commercializing a New Class of Biopharmaceuticals

Over the past six months I have been honored and pleased to have seen and been part of an increasing focus and attention being paid to the unique manufacturing and bioproduction issues related to cell therapy.

Certainly it is the Cell Therapy Group's view, that this is both timely and much-needed as more cell therapies reach later-stage. Issues related to larger scale production and lowering the costs associated with it will be critical to successful commercialization of these products. It is encouraging to see both content-providers and and companies involved in potentially bringing solutions to these issues now bringing their focused energies to this sector.

This focus has come from a number of different sources including conferences focused solely on the topic, companies engaging stakeholders in identifying potential bottlenecks they might be positioned to solve, more conference sessions dedicated to these issues, and now a commitment by one of the leading publications in bioprocessing to engage both the cell therapy industry and the traditional bioprocessing community in stepping up the level of two-way education, dialog, and problem-solving that will be critical to commercializing these products.

In March/April 2011, watch for a special issue of BioProcess International entitled "Cell Therapies: Commercializing a New Class of Biopharmaceuticals".

BioProcess International is a publishing leader of cutting edge technologies, improved processes and breakthrough sciences. With this cell therapy focused issue, in partnership with ISCT and others, BPI is launching what we hope will be a regular supplement and increased focus on the unique bioproduction issues related to cell-based therapies.

BioProcess International aims to accomplish three main objectives with this supplement:

• Educate the bioprocess and cell therapy market (suppliers and end-users) on the similarities and differences between the two processes;
• Educate and encourage the investor community to keep increasing their interest and investment;
• Expedite the commercialization process.

Distribution will include:

• BPI's 30,010 qualified readers;
• Delegates attending ISCT's 2011 Annual Meeting (included in all delegate bags)
• Delegates attending ESACT 2011 (Chair drop at the Cell Therapy Plenary Session)
• INTERPHEX 2011 Cell Therapy Roundtable (VIP Invitations, 200 attendees, produced by BPI)
• BIO 2011 International Convention (BioProcess Theatre - Cell Therapy track)

If you are interested in advertising, click here for more info.

While the content for this issue is now being finalized, it you are interested in contributing something to BPI, we are looking for more cell therapy related content. As the cell therapy representative on BPI's advisory board I would be happy to champion it through submission.

Cheers.

--Lee