Immunotherapy has been regarded by cancer patients and medical professionals as a glimmer of hope as well as a new trend in cancer treatment. To overcome constraints posed by conventional cancer therapies and broaden potential applications of cell therapy in different and diversified medical domains, TSGH and UWELL Biopharma joined hands with each other in launching the Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells (CAR-T) clinical trial projects in Tri-Service General Hospital. The CAR-T clinical trial cooperation project was announced in a press conference convened by TSGH and presided over by Major General Chiang-Sung, TSAI, Deputy Surgeon General of Defense and Deputy Director General of Medical Affairs Bureau, Ministry of National Defense on August 26th, 2020. The press conference was attended by senior leaders of TSGH including, Dr. Chih-Hung, WANG, Superintendent; Dr. Ching-Liang, HO, Acting Executive Deputy Superintendent; Dr. Jia-Jun, WU, Deputy Superintendent; and other first-tier senior TSGH leaders. Mr. Jia-Hung, CHIN, Chairman of UWELL Biopharma; Director General Jang-Hwa, LEU of Industrial Development Bureau under Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA); among other cross-industry senior leaders and government officials also attended the press conference, which is conducted smoothly and successfully.

In his opening remarks, Major General Chiang-Sung, TSAI, Deputy Surgeon General of Defense and Deputy Director General of Medical Affairs Bureau, MND stated that Tri-Service General Hospital is the first medical center in Taiwan to have established a cell therapy center in 2018 by integrating TSGH’s clinical expertise and experience with know-how and technologies owned by industry partners, aimed at overcoming constraints posed by conventional cancer treatment. Dr. TSAI further added that “CAR-T Cell Therapy Clinical Trial Project for Lymphoma Patients” between TSGH and UWELL Biopharma is another milestone showcasing TSGH’s industry-academic collaboration. CAR-T therapy is generally considered most effective in treating patients of lymphoma or leukemia and the side effects associated with CAR-T therapy is found to be rare and mild. According to the clinical trial project, TSGH plans to recruit 20 patients/subjects to participate in the CAR-T clinical trials. Clinicians and researchers from both parties hope that the CAR-T therapy can be officially approved by Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) by 2025 and to be offered to patients who need such a cell therapy in hospitals of Taiwan, allowing selective cancer patients the hope that their cancer cells will be eradicated in a single course of CAR-T cell therapy.