Engineering the next generation of cell-based therapeutics

Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2022 Sep;21(9):655-675. doi: 10.1038/s41573-022-00476-6. Epub 2022 May 30.

Abstract

Cell-based therapeutics are an emerging modality with the potential to treat many currently intractable diseases through uniquely powerful modes of action. Despite notable recent clinical and commercial successes, cell-based therapies continue to face numerous challenges that limit their widespread translation and commercialization, including identification of the appropriate cell source, generation of a sufficiently viable, potent and safe product that meets patient- and disease-specific needs, and the development of scalable manufacturing processes. These hurdles are being addressed through the use of cutting-edge basic research driven by next-generation engineering approaches, including genome and epigenome editing, synthetic biology and the use of biomaterials.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy*
  • Gene Editing*
  • Humans