Photo Source: Morozov Children's Hospital
The initiative was announced by Deputy Mayor Anastasia Rakova. According to her statement, CAR-T cell therapy will begin being implemented in adult patients starting in the current year, 2026.
CAR-T cell therapy represents an innovative treatment modality for relapsed and refractory hematologic malignancies. The technology is based on genetic modification of the patient's autologous T lymphocytes, which are subsequently reinfused into the patient to target and destroy malignant cells. The approach demonstrates greatest efficacy in acute B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas (B-NHL), as well as multiple myeloma.
In Russia, only "academic" CAR-T products are currently utilized—therapeutics developed in research center laboratories. Cases of commercial or industrial pharmaceutical product use remain isolated.
Morozov Children's Hospital is the capital's only municipal institution utilizing CAR-T cell therapy; they were also the first to report in Russia successful use of "commercial-scale" CAR-T in pediatric patients—in 2025, through grant funding from municipal authorities, Kymriah from Novartis was procured.
The most extensive experience utilizing CAR-T cell therapy in pediatric patients in Russia belongs to Rogachev NMRC—over 150 patients since 2018. Several research oncology centers in Russia have proprietary CAR-T development and clinical programs: NMRC of Radiology, N.N. Petrov NMRC of Oncology, and N.N. Blokhin NMRC of Oncology; Marus Media published detailed coverage of these and other developments in a special review.
Periodically, each of these centers has reported successful CAR-T treatment cases in adult patients, but NMRC of Hematology has advanced furthest in establishing proprietary manufacturing capabilities with its product Utzhefra (INN: gemagenleycleucel) for B-ALL and non-Hodgkin lymphoma therapy in adults. The medical center was the first in Russia to receive all necessary regulatory approvals to initiate commercial-scale CAR-T pharmaceutical production and plans, beginning in 2026-2027, to manufacture up to 600 personalized cellular products annually.
Source: TASS
All information on this website is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. All medical procedures require prior consultation with a licensed physician. Treatment outcomes may vary depending on individual characteristics. We do not guarantee any specific results. Always consult a medical professional before making any healthcare decisions.