The Rogachev National Medical Research Centre for Paediatric Haematology, Oncology and Immunology has launched production of CAR‑T‑based drugs for children, Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova announced at the opening of the anniversary congress “35 Years Together”.
According to Golikova, the centre’s capacity will allow it to produce up to 500 cell and gene therapy drugs for children per year.
“We have just launched production of the first CAR‑T 19,001 drug. According to experts, this will enable the centre to independently produce up to 500 cell and gene therapy drugs for children annually,” TASS quoted Golikova as saying.
Golikova noted that CAR‑T therapy has been included in the state guarantees programme since 2026, making treatment free for patients. This applies to all children for whom this method is indicated.
Earlier, Samara State Medical University received permission from Russia’s Health Ministry to manufacture and use the biomedical cell product “Anti‑CD19 Human CAR‑T Cells for Autologous Use”. The drug is intended for adult patients with refractory B‑cell non‑Hodgkin lymphomas who have received two or more lines of systemic therapy. The university became the first regional centre in Russia to be granted such a licence.
Also in May, Tatiana Gaponova, first deputy director general of the National Medical Research Centre for Haematology, told GxP News that the centre plans to file for conditional registration of Russia’s first CAR‑T drug, Utzhefra, as early as 2026.
