The Cause | Immunotherapy
What is immunotherapy?
For decades, cancer treatment relied on three primary approaches: surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Today, a new form of cancer treatment has emerged as a fourth pillar of cancer care, with the potential to significantly transform the treatment landscape.
Immunotherapy harnesses a patient’s own immune system to identify and destroy cancer cells. Today, many patients with cancer benefit from this exciting treatment.
Now comes the next generation of immunotherapy, in which a patient’s immune cells are genetically engineered
Next generation immunotherapy at the Cross Cancer Institute to recognize specific cancer targets, enabling them to seek out and eliminate cancer cells throughout the body. Immunotherapy has already changed the face of cancer care, but much work remains to be done. Researchers are now exploring its potential across many other cancers and immune-related diseases.
Alberta can be a national and global leader in this space. We have the expertise and experience. With the right investment, we can build more solutions here at home for Albertans, and for Canada.
Next generation immunotherapy at the Cross Cancer Institute
Immunotherapies hold incredible promise for many hard-to-treat cancers. To date, clinical trials in Alberta have seen upwards of 29 patients with blood cancers treated with an Alberta-made cellular therapy, which is outperforming commercial products at a fraction of the cost.
Building on substantial investments in clinical trials, infrastructure and expertise, Alberta has established the foundation to expand this work. The Cross Cancer Institute is now uniquely positioned to scale research and manufacturing, accelerating access to made-in-Alberta therapies for more individuals living with cancer.
Key advantages of immunotherapy
through in-house manufacturing compared to commercial products, meaning more patients can access this promising treatment.
Building on Alberta’s success: By developing and supporting immunotherapies in Alberta, like cellular therapies, we can advance new treatments and clinical trials, making these treatments available to those who wouldn’t otherwise have access.
Made-in-Alberta: Local manufacturing reduces reliance on international supply chains and shortens wait times. It also means that therapies are delivered fresh, increasing effectiveness and reducing side effects.
Faster access to treatment: Patients can receive therapy in days rather than weeks.
Program priorities
Advances in immunotherapy are evolving quickly and investments in research and infrastructure are necessary for Alberta to become leaders in this area. Funding is critical to accelerate the following areas:
Discovery and innovation:
Develop and evaluate next-generation immunotherapies, with the potential to expand research capacity and advance treatments for additional cancer types such as multiple myeloma, melanoma, glioblastoma, sarcoma.
Infrastructure and biomanufacturing:
Enable rapid, high-quality, cost-effective and point-of-care manufacturing of immunotherapies in Edmonton, improving access for Albertans.
Clinical research:
Expand clinical trials and generate evidence needed to bring new therapies to patients, while informing future innovation, such as treatments for other diseases and vaccines.
Commercialization:
Scale Alberta-developed therapies beyond the province making them available as standard of care, increasing patient access, attracting investment and supporting long-term sustainability of the program.
Invest in the future of cancer treatment
Investing in immunotherapy will help position Alberta as a global leader in developing, manufacturing and delivering next-generation cancer treatments while building long-term research and economic capacity.
Alberta has demonstrated success with made-in-Alberta immunotherapies for blood cancers. We now have an opportunity to expand this work, increasing patient access while advancing treatments for more patients with more cancers.
Philanthropic investment will accelerate progress beyond what is possible through traditional funding alone. By supporting immunotherapy efforts in Edmonton, you can help strengthen Alberta’s leadership in a rapidly growing field while creating lasting benefits for Albertans facing cancer.
