Life Science Rabbit Hole #10: This One Is For You, Andy

This special edition of Life Science Rabbit Hole celebrates Iovance Biotherapeutics, Inc. receiving approval for AMTAGVI? (lifileucel) on February 16, 2024.? Here is an excerpt from the Indications and Usage section in the USPI (U.S. Prescribing Information) document:

?“AMTAGVI is a tumor-derived autologous T cell immunotherapy indicated for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma previously treated with a PD-1 blocking antibody, and if BRAF V600 mutation positive, a BRAF inhibitor with or without a MEK inhibitor. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on objective response rate (ORR)”

Life Science Rabbit Hole #4: The Usefulness of Useless Knowledge, suggested that we were in the early stages of a new “golden age” of medicine based on cell therapies, gene therapies, and personalized medicine…that 30 years of scientific research in multiple fields had progressed to a point that was enabling an incredible number of potential therapies to be developed by existing and startup life science organizations.

Having lost someone close due to metastatic melanoma, about 30 years ago, and having served Iovance Biotherapeutics in the recent past, I am thrilled to see this approval and to acknowledge the tremendous efforts of so many people.?

How many of us spend our entire lives in this industry and never have the opportunity to develop and launch a new-to-the-world therapy for patients who have no other options?? Congratulations to the Iovance team and their many partners and investors who contributed to this achievement.

Here is the Iovance press release.

Here is an article from Fierce Pharma.

Finally, an article from BioPharma Dive.

?