How to increase the cost of CGT products?

A major healthcare program has announced recently their transitioning from outsourcing to inhouse production of cell and gene therapy (CGT) products, a change that would significantly reduce the cost per product. Thumb up for such initiatives that would make CGT more accessible to patients.

As I discuss this, a question crossed my mind, what would production facilities do to increase the cost of CGT production? There are several answers to this question, but I will only discuss a couple that I see some productions facilities are struggling with.

Think of an employee who is constantly putting extra work hours for no kind of return, the result is exhaustion. Over-regulation does the same thing, it draws resources with no added benefit, and in some cases could be detrimental for small academic or healthcare centers. Regulations are meant to produce safety and quality, going beyond the required has immediate impact on cost, and seldom adds any benefit.

The other factor is the pace at which production facility is expanded. From my professional experience, and from existing models of active academic centers, production facility can generate a lot of products only if planned and managed properly. While the facility establishing cost is a one-time thing, the routine maintenance is not; it is an ongoing high cost. Every cubic meter in production space costs, therefore, establishing or expanding of production facility should be carefully planned.

So here you go, if you would like to increase the cost per product, you have two proved methods that would do just that. 

About the author

Naseem Almezel, earned his MSc degree in Cellular Therapies in 2010, since then his career focus is to support Bone Marrow Transplant and Oncology programs. Naseem likes to work in the lab doing translational research, or in the cleanroom doing GMP production. When he is not working, Naseem likes to read and to spend time outdoors. Find more about Naseem here