Brasília – Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz) is advancing a national strategy to offer chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy by the end of 2026 to both the Brazilian Public Health System (SUS) and the private market. Developed in partnership with the National Cancer Institute (INCA) and the nonprofit biotech Caring Cross, the therapy targets lymphoma and leukemia and is expected to reach the market at approximately 20% of the cost of current commercial products.

The initiative is based on a technology-transfer and co-development model, with the project currently in Phase 1 of clinical evaluation in the United States. Fiocruz expects to begin Phases 2 and 3 in 2026, followed by initial production batches pending regulatory decisions from the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa). The strategy includes installing biomodules next to hospitals to perform T-cell modification and establishing domestic production of viral vectors to support large-scale manufacturing.

Source: Futuro da Saúde