How has COVID-19 had Dramatically Disrupted the CAR-T Therapy Market?

Thursday 10 November 2022, Amsterdam

The CAR-T Therapy market was valued at US$1.9 billion in 2021 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 42.95% during the forecast period 2022-2032.

Some of the major forces propelling the CAR-T therapy market include increase in funding from venture capitalist and government institutes and increase in global burden of cancer benefits. As per the data published by the WHO, cancer is a leading cause of death globally and caused almost 10 million deaths in 2020.

Based on current and projected population aging and growth, the American Cancer Society, Inc., predicts that the burden of cancer will increase to an estimated 29.4 million cases globally by 2040. China, with the largest population size worldwide has the highest global proportion of cancer new cases and deaths followed by Northern America in terms of new cases and fourth by cancer deaths. Increase in consumption of tobacco & alcohol, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and air pollution in various countries across the globe might further increase the cancer burden in future and thus fuel market growth over the forecast period.

The delivery of cellular therapies, such as CAR-T cells, has been dramatically disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The three sections of the CAR-T cell industry that have been most impacted by the COVID-19 issue are the production & delivery of medicines, research & clinical development, and commercial operations. Supply chains supporting the production and delivery of cell- and gene-therapy (CGTs) industries are extensive, intricate, and tightly regulated. Given that the cell or the CAR-T cell gathered are both time and temperature sensitive, closing of the borders, decreased air traffic, and delayed flights had put its viability in jeopardy during the pandemic. During the pandemic, one in five cell therapy companies reported disruptions in the supply chain, while one-third reported manufacturing delays or a complete halt to operations.

Increase in Funding From Venture Capitalist And Government Institutes
In the past five years around US$12 billion have been invested by venture capital (VC) firms around the globe, an additional of US$2.2 billion of funding is raised through strategic partnerships between various institutes and biopharma companies. There has also been an increase in fundings from government and other institutes to promote CAR-T cell therapies for cancer treatment. In December 2021, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) granted US$14 million to Penn Medicine as a seven-year grant for harnessing synthetic chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells which will be used to deplete immune B cells and plasma cells for achieving a compatible kidney transplant for patients.

Increase In Global Burden of Cancer
As per the data published by the WHO, cancer is a leading cause of death globally and caused almost 10 million deaths in 2020. Based on current and projected population aging and growth, the American Cancer Society, Inc., predicts that the burden of cancer will increase to an estimated 29.4 million cases globally by 2040. China, with the largest population size worldwide has the highest global proportion of cancer new cases and deaths followed by Northern America in terms of new cases and fourth by cancer deaths. Increase in consumption of tobacco & alcohol, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and air pollution in various countries across the globe might further increase the cancer burden in future.