TY - JOUR
T1 - Challenges in Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product Development
T2 - A Survey among Companies in Europe
AU - ten Ham, Renske M.T.
AU - Hoekman, Jarno
AU - Hövels, Anke M.
AU - Broekmans, Andre W.
AU - Leufkens, Hubert G.M.
AU - Klungel, Olaf H.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 The Authors
PY - 2018/12/14
Y1 - 2018/12/14
N2 - Advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) hold promise as treatments for previously untreatable and high-burden diseases. Expectations are high and active company pipelines are observed, yet only 10 market authorizations were approved in Europe. Our aim was to identify challenges experienced in European ATMP clinical development by companies. A survey-based cohort study was conducted among commercial ATMP developers. Respondents shared challenges experienced during various development phases, as well as developer and product characteristics. Descriptions of challenges were grouped in domains (clinical, financial, human resource management, regulatory, scientific, technical, other) and further categorized using thematic content analysis. A descriptive analysis was performed. We invited 271 commercial ATMP developers, of which 68 responded providing 243 challenges. Of products in development, 72% were in early clinical development and 40% were gene therapies. Most developers were small- or medium-sized enterprises (65%). The most often mentioned challenges were related to country-specific requirements (16%), manufacturing (15%), and clinical trial design (8%). The European ATMP field is still in its early stages, and developers experience challenges on many levels. Challenges are multifactorial and a mix of ATMP-specific and generic development aspects, such as new and orphan indications, novel technologies, and inexperience, adding complexity to development efforts.
AB - Advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) hold promise as treatments for previously untreatable and high-burden diseases. Expectations are high and active company pipelines are observed, yet only 10 market authorizations were approved in Europe. Our aim was to identify challenges experienced in European ATMP clinical development by companies. A survey-based cohort study was conducted among commercial ATMP developers. Respondents shared challenges experienced during various development phases, as well as developer and product characteristics. Descriptions of challenges were grouped in domains (clinical, financial, human resource management, regulatory, scientific, technical, other) and further categorized using thematic content analysis. A descriptive analysis was performed. We invited 271 commercial ATMP developers, of which 68 responded providing 243 challenges. Of products in development, 72% were in early clinical development and 40% were gene therapies. Most developers were small- or medium-sized enterprises (65%). The most often mentioned challenges were related to country-specific requirements (16%), manufacturing (15%), and clinical trial design (8%). The European ATMP field is still in its early stages, and developers experience challenges on many levels. Challenges are multifactorial and a mix of ATMP-specific and generic development aspects, such as new and orphan indications, novel technologies, and inexperience, adding complexity to development efforts.
KW - ATMP
KW - Europe
KW - cell-based therapy
KW - challenges
KW - development
KW - gene therapy
KW - manufacturing
KW - regulation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85056200603&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.omtm.2018.10.003
DO - 10.1016/j.omtm.2018.10.003
M3 - Article
C2 - 30456217
AN - SCOPUS:85056200603
SN - 2329-0501
VL - 11
SP - 121
EP - 130
JO - Molecular Therapy Methods and Clinical Development
JF - Molecular Therapy Methods and Clinical Development
ER -