Clinical trials of the first Russian-developed CAR-T drug called Utzhefra (hemagenlecleucel) have started in Russia. Developed by experts at the National Medical Research Center of Hematology, this treatment targets severe cases of oncohematological diseases, specifically addressing resistant forms and relapses of B-cell malignant blood tumors. Only one CAR-T drug, Kimraya (tisagenlecleucel) by Novartis, is registered in Russia, approved in 2023 for treating specific cancers, costing around 39 million rubles.
The clinical trial, designed for a one-year period, is planned to involve 60 patients. Olga Aleshina, the head of the Department of Cellular and Immune Therapy at the National Medical Research Center of Hematology, emphasizes that this study holds strategic significance for countless patients seeking groundbreaking treatment options.
