by Dr Eleni Tholouli
Oscar Murphy, 28, has become one of the first patients in the UK to receive the novel next-generation CAR-T therapy called Obe-cel for relapsed, aggressive B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia on the NHS. Following the return of his cancer, Mr Murphy underwent treatment under the care of Dr Eleni Tholouli, Consultant Haematologist at Manchester Royal Infirmary.
CAR-T therapy is a personalised immunotherapy that uses a patient’s own T-cells, which are extracted, genetically modified to recognise the cancer cells, expanded, and reinfused. This approach harnesses the patient’s own immune system to attack malignant cells and represents a significant advancement in leukaemia treatment.
The process begins with leukapheresis to collect T-cells. These are sent to a facility in Stevenage, where they are “educated” to target cancer cells, multiplied to create an army of modified T-cells, and then reinfused at Manchester Royal Infirmary. Developed by scientists at University College London, this novel CAR-T product is manufactured in the UK and offers a therapy that has shown both superior safety and efficacy in clinical studies and is now available on the NHS.
Dr Tholouli highlighted the significance of the therapy during a BBC Breakfast appearance with Mr Murphy. “This is a significant breakthrough. The product has been designed, trialled, and manufactured in the UK. As the next generation of CAR-T therapies, it is much safer and highly efficacious. I am very hopeful that this was the right treatment for Oscar,” she said.
Patients without this therapy typically live just a few months, but this next-generation CAR-T called Obe-cel can extend that to years, and, in some cases, even offer a potential cure.