Highlights From ARM's 2024 Meeting On The Mesa
By Erin Harris, Editor-In-Chief, Cell & Gene
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It’s been about two weeks since ARM’s 2024 Meeting on the Mesa wrapped up, and I’m still combing through the copious notes of data-driven information I took while in attendance. The conference serves as a crucial platform for industry leaders to discuss advancements, challenges, and future directions in cell and gene therapy, making it a significant event in the biotech calendar. The 2024 conference was held in a new city and new venue (Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix) with more than 2,000 industry professionals in attendance. The high level of enthusiasm among attendees hasn’t changed a bit. There were plenty of indoor and outdoor lounge areas, which facilitated the spontaneous conversations Meeting on the Mesa is known for. One of my favorite parts of the conference, the educational sessions, featured top industry leaders who took deep dives into the biggest wins and challenges facing the CGT space. Indeed, the three-day agenda was packed with educational sessions, partnering meetings, company presentations, panels and workshops, and more. Here are a few highlights from the conference.
Is It Hot Here, or Is It Just the Data?
It was a hot one in Phoenix with temps reaching 109 F, but the record-high temps didn’t overshadow the valuable information various CGT companies shared throughout the event.
One of my favorite sessions was Day 2’s “Plenary Session: Spotlight on Gene Editing – Leveraging Platform Approaches to Improve Development Efficiency.” Fyodor Urnov, Ph.D., Scientific Director, Innovative Genomics Institute; Professor, MCB Department, University of California, Berkeley chaired the conversation among speakers Rachel Anatol, Ph.D., Deputy Super Office Director, OTP, FDA; Keith Gottesdiener, M.D., President and CEO, Prime Medicine; and Devyn Smith, Ph.D., CEO, Arbor Biotechnologies, Chairman ARM.
Regarding gene editing specifically, Gottesdiener shared that the Agency is much more comfortable with gene editing today than ever before. Anatol stated that while we have improved light years in gene editing from where we were five years ago, we still have a long way to go. She noted Dr. Peter Marks’ statement, “gene editing is the poster child for platform,” and that the FDA refers to product with a capital “P” and lowercase “p,” the latter when referring to leveraging data. Smith stated CRISPR as a platform is an overused term.
From a funding perspective, raising money in gene editing was easier than it is today. All agreed that while funding is challenging, Gottesdiener stated that there are “really strong investors out there who want to invest in our future.” Smith shared that he’s happy Arbor is not a public company, as they are not “priced to the market every minute.”
Other Notable Highlights
Important topics covering everything from ethics to the 2024 Presidential Election were on the agenda. As was patient advocacy. Amy Nicole Nayar, Pharm.D., VP of U.S. Patient Advocacy and Government Affairs at Novartis chaired the conversation with Bradley Watts, prior CAR T patient and patient advocate, Emily Whitehead Foundation, VP Conner, Strong & Buckelew. Watts shared his courageous and triumphant journey with CAR T-cell therapy, highlighting the importance of advanced genetic testing to reduce unnecessary procedures. Watts’ first-hand patient perspective highlighted the importance of patient advocacy and the transformative nature of cell and gene therapies.
On Site Podcast Recordings Coming Soon
While at the conference, I had the fortunate opportunity to sit down with five industry experts to record upcoming episodes for Cell & Gene: The Podcast. ARM’s COO, Rita Johnson-Greene, and I discussed how globalization impacts patient access, her insight on the Joint Clinical Assessment in Europe and its potential impact on cell and gene therapies, and more. Kiji Therapeutics’ CEO, Miguel Forte, M.D., Ph.D. and I recorded an episode, out now, to discuss iPSC-MSC therapies for inflammatory diseases. Yoshi Shitaka, CSO and Richard Wilson, SVP, Primary Focus Lead (Genetic Regulation) from Astellas discussed with me how AI and machine learning are enhancing cell and gene therapy today as well as the role strategic partnerships play in the success of cell and gene therapy development. Last but not least, I caught up with Greg Kunst, CEO of Aurion Biotech, to discuss the company’s treatment for corneal endothelial disease.
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What were your biggest takeaways from 2024 Meeting on the Mesa? Let me know what you and your team deemed important from this year’s conference.