Iran Press/ Iran news: Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is a way to get immune cells called T cells (a type of white blood cell) to fight cancer by changing them in the lab so they can find and destroy cancer cells. CAR T-cell therapy is also sometimes talked about as cell-based gene therapy because it involves altering the genes inside T cells to help them attack cancer.
Attending the ceremony of "CAR T-cell therapy" to treat children diagnosed with cancer using gene therapy, the head of the gene, cell, and tissue research institute of Tehran University of Medical Sciences said that CAR T-cell is the newest method for cancer treatment in the world, which has reached the final stage with the efforts of an Iranian knowledge-based company.
Amir Ali Hamidiyeh noted: The model was localized and used in the country only 4-5 years after its use worldwide.
After chemotherapy, stem cell transplantation came with the help of therapists, and the method also covered 30-40 percent of children resistant to chemical treatments. Gene therapy raised hope for the recovery of patients increases, he highlighted.
This achievement took nearly seven years to appear successful, he said, adding after passing cell studies and preclinical studies on animals, a gene therapy product was used for a patient for the first time in the country.
Gene treatment can be used on industrial scale
On the sidelines of "CAR T-cell therapy" for the treatment of children with cancer using gene therapy, the Vice President for Science and Technology emphasized that if the treatment areas are well supported, they can serve on a large and industrial scale, and they will be one of Iran's tourist attractions.
In an exclusive interview with Iran Press, referring to medical tourism in Iran, Rouhollah Dehghani Firouzabadi said: Every year, many people from all over the world visit Iran, who are interested in the country's health services in addition to tourism, so we have many plans for medical technology services.
He argued: We also plan to establish medical service centers in neighboring countries.
He continued: Considering that we produce a lot of added value in the country due to having skilled human forces, gene therapy can be an attractive industry.
The Vice President for Science and Technology emphasized that the research and knowledge-based companies related to gene therapy and its export will be supported.
Rouhollah Dehghani Firouzabadi said: Gene therapy is mainly used in incurable diseases; therefore, it should be supported.
He concluded: To develop the gene therapy products export market, we are trying to facilitate conditions for private sector investment.
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