The Institute is collaborating with Novartis Pharma AG on the technology transfer of an investigational chimeric antigen receptor therapy (CTL019). It aims to obtain the specific manufacturing authorization in accordance with Section 13 of the German Drug Act.

Subsequently the Fraunhofer-Institute will assist in clinical programs for patients in Europe using CTL019.

CTL019 is an investigational, personalized T-cell therapy. T cells are drawn from the patient's blood and reprogrammed to hunt and destroy cancer cells that express specific proteins, called CD19. This protein is associated with a number of B-cell malignancies including acute and chronic lymphoblastic leukemia.