My Top Editorial Picks for 2022

By Erin Harris, Editor-In-Chief, Cell & Gene
Follow Me On Twitter @ErinHarris_1

Fair warning, Cell & Gene readers. While this list includes some of my favorite editorial from 2022, it’s not even remotely close to being as extensive as I’d like. Why is that? Our library of content is so deep and so rich, I couldn’t possibly share and recap all of it with you in one article. See, we know our readers care about the entire scope of the cell and gene therapy space in addition to the topics and trends that affect their individual roles. That’s why we deliver timely editorial that speaks to every aspect of the sector. We also know that our readers are often inundated with information from all sorts of outlets, which is why Cell & Gene cuts through the noise with the various formats that suit your needs. From subject-matter-expert-penned editorial and content collections to e-newsletters to Cell & Gene: The Podcast and Cell & Gene Live events (i.e. webinars), and more, Cell & Gene is a one-stop shop for everything you and your peers are accomplishing, grappling, and tackling.

And so it goes with this list. I wanted to give you a glimpse at just some of what Cell & Gene covered this year; some highlights that helped to inform our readers about everything from process development to vendor selection to partnering with the right investment team. Do yourself a favor and register for our e-newsletter; by doing so, you’ll receive data-driven information delivered to right to your inbox. Enjoy this list and, as always, feel free to reach out to me directly with questions or suggestions about the editorial topics you’re interested in.

Novartis T-Charge Platform Spotlights Auto CAR-Ts

Back in June, I wrote a brief but impactful article on Novartis’ T-Charge platform. The cell and gene therapy sector is stymied by manufacturing speed. At the time, Novartis planned to reduce the manufacturing timeline for immune cells to less than two days and thus cut the overall timeline “from vein to door” by at least half.

Addressing The "Achilles Heel" Of Gene Therapy Manufacturing

This guest article, written by Andrew Knudten, Chief Operating Officer atJaguar Gene Therapy explains why an industry-leading CMC package and team is the fundamental success factor enabling all vector technologies.

Therapeutic Oligonucleotides: Regulations & Quality Standards

Oligonucleotides have surfaced in the past few years as promising therapeutic agents to treat diseases such as neurodegenerative disorders, respiratory disorders, cancer, and diabetic retinopathy. This article, written by Sarita K. Acharya and Christian Zeine at U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP), recaps a recent USP workshop where participants from regulatory agencies, industry, and academia gathered to discuss best practices and perspectives.

Speaking of oligonucleotides, SVP Head of Clinical Development Dr. Michelle Mellion was my guest on Cell & Gene: The Podcast, and she explained how the delivery of oligonucleotide therapies differ from other techniques in genetic medicine, and much more.

Allogeneic Cell Therapy Results: Delving A Little Deeper

Poseida’s CEO, Mark Gergen, explains that the allogeneic cell therapy data we have seen from others has been uninspiring, but the natural follow up question is, “What about those data has fallen short, and what are the likely causes for those results?” The answer is multi-faceted.

Evaluating Translational Research Tools For CGTs

Back in November, Gregory Opiteck, Ph.D., VP Head of Translational Sciences at Allogene Therapeutics and Douglas Sanders, Ph.D., VP Head of Translational Medicine at AVROBIO joined me to cover assay and vendor selection in support of allogenic CAR T therapy as well as the various modalities of AAV gene therapy. This Cell & Gene Live event is well worth your time.

Here’s another Cell & Gene Live I think you’ll find valuable. Advancements In Targeted mRNA Delivery featured my esteemed guests Dr. Murat Kalayoglu, CEO of Cartesian Therapeutics and Walter Strapps, Ph.D., CSO of Gemini Therapeutics and Co-Founder and CEO of Carver Biosciences. They explained the delivery of mRNA-based therapeutics and the specific challenges, opportunities, and advancements in delivering mRNA therapeutics clinically.

And there are many more on demand versions of our Cell & Gene Live events where that came from. Visit our extensive library to view the topic that suits your needs.

An Interview with Dr. Carl June

Recording this episode was a real thrill for me, and I hope you’ll find it just as thrilling. Dr. Carl June, an HIV gene therapy pioneer and the father of CAR-T cell therapy, joined me on Cell & Gene: The Podcast to discuss the current state of CAR-T therapy, what's on the short-term horizon for immunotherapy, on-going manufacturing capacity issues, an update on Emily Whitehead, the first child to receive CAR-T cell therapy on an experimental basis, and more.

On Thursday, January 5, 2023, CBER’s Dr. Peter Marks joins me on Cell & Gene: The Podcast. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts now so you don’t miss it.

Biotech In 2016–2022 & Looking Ahead

The last five years have been disruptive regardless of sector, yet biotech managed to weather the storm. This article looks at the past five years in the industry from a macro view and shares what biotech executives should consider in the months ahead.

Leveraging Human Genetics To Advance Cell Therapies For Treatment Of Blood Cancers

This article written by Abhinav Dhall, Carolyn Wills, Nathan Jorgensen, Tirtha Chakraborty, and John Lydeard at Vor Biopharma explains that leveraging human genetics data early in the drug discovery process to inform target prioritization is a powerful approach to mitigate risk and increase the likelihood of advancing safe therapies that make a transformative impact in patients’ lives.