January 2024 marked five years since NHS England became the first health system in Europe to approve the groundbreaking cancer treatment, CAR T-Cell Therapy. Stephen joined Gilead Sciences at a parliamentary event to celebrate.
CAR T-Cell therapy re-engineers a person’s own immune system to detect and destroy cancerous cells in their body. The therapy produces chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) that enable T cells to identify and attack cancer. It is mainly used to treat children with leukemia.
The UK was the first country in Europe to approve the use of CAR T-Cell therapy, in January 2019. This week, Gilead Sciences hosted a parliamentary reception to celebrate five years since the treatment was approved. The event was hosted in partnership with the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult and the Advanced Therapy Treatment Centres Network.
Speaking after attending the event, Stephen said, “I am proud that the NHS was the first health system in Europe to approve CAR T-Cell Therapy. It shows the important role the NHS can play in encouraging new innovations in medical research, while providing the best possible care to everyone who needs it.”