Takeda moves CAR-T candidate towards clinical trial

The first induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell-derived CAR-T therapy developed in a collaboration involving the Japanese pharma major Takeda (TYO: 4502) has entered process development toward clinical testing.

It is hoped that the program, also involving the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA) at Kyoto University, will lead to the development of a highly-scalable, off-the-shelf CAR-T therapy to treat cancer.

Under the terms of the agreement between the parties, Takeda has the global rights to develop and commercialize the product and CiRA will receive development and approval milestones.