Let's enjoy some predictions: cell and gene therapy in 2024

[Maxone73]

because sometimes we must also have some positive but realistic dreams....

massgeneralbrigham.org/en/a...

[SC19]

I’d be interested to read what your predictions are for 2024 Maxone73 specifically for advanced prostate cancer.

[Maxone73 in reply to SC19]

mine? well, let's see...

for CRISPR: too early for cancer, especially PCa but what I expect is a mindset shift toward acceptance. Many consider anything "genetic" like against nature, not to mention conspiracy theories about mind control. So let's hope that the first two commercial CRISPR therapies for b-thalassemia and sickle cell disease will perform greatly (they are for now), any adverse event will be amplified by the media.

CAR-T: I expect something non autologous within the next two years. An allogenic treatment would exponentially decrease the costs of development, boosting extra trials. Still not good enough for metastatic PCa, but a pathway.

Antibody-drug conjugate: it will be a good year for those, especially since the company producing ARX517 was bought by a big pharma company, which I tend to consider a signal of where big companies are putting their money for the immediate future.

BiTEs, bispecific T cells engagers: AMG 509 is where I would put my money from preliminary results, they are in phase 2 at the moment.

Magnetic nanomaterials: I have been waiting for a breakthrough in cancer binding particles that could then be irradiated with a magnetic field to bring cancer cells at 44-45 C degrees to cause their apoptosis...they seem to be making small steps but really not as much I would expect (it would be a repeatable therapy with very low toxicity IMO), so I would not hold my breath for 2024.

Repurposing: hopefully we will soon have results for the repurposing of some drugs from decent sized trials. I will know if metformin, statins and aspirin do something and possibly how they interact.

Phytochemicals: there will be something new and exciting. For example curcumin is being used as nanocarriers for chemo drug and also for immune therapy. It seems to greatly amplify the precision and effect of standard drugs without creating more side effects.

Radioligands: I think we will see some results from the first clinical trials about LU177 used at early stages (thank God) but I am expecting surprises from Actinium once they get better at managing SE, and it gives me some hope because it seems to be better at hitting bone metastasis.

AI: what to say? It's behind most of the advancements of the last years, in drug discovery, diagnostic and also data analysis...and speed is increasing.

AOH1996: this year I am afraid that this "miraculous" molecule will give me the final disappointment....

Apart from all of the above, I think we would need to get together and be heard by the legislators. Even if AI is speeding up many parts of drug development, it's still taking to long in my opinion. Death caused by experimental drugs are becoming quite rare because modern tools have made us way more precise and in some cases even SE can be predicted. It cannot still be 10 years from discovery to market, especially now, with an infinite queue of preclinical studies. I have called it "guinea pig right" but I really think that an informed consent should be allowed for adults to let them have some stage 4 treatments performed at early stages.

[Maxone73 in reply to SC19]

And I would add that we will get some news on drugs targeted at making us hormone sensitive again when we become CR, which would make us gain precious time....

[SC19]

Thank you so much for taking the time to write this, very interesting. It has given me some hope and optimism, I’m going to show my dad as I’m sure it will do the same for him.