NHS Blood and Transplant’s specialist therapeutic apheresis and cell processing capabilities are supporting the production of DCVax®-L

NHS Blood and Transplant's (NHSBT) Therapeutic Apheresis Services (TAS) and Cellular and Molecular Therapies (CMT) teams are supporting the UK production of DCVax®-L – a treatment for Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), an aggressive form of primary brain cancer, as well as all solid tumours.

Working in collaboration with Northwest Biotherapeutics and Advent Bioservices, NHSBT's specialist teams are supporting key stages of the manufacturing: TAS is carrying out leukapheresis procedures to collect the immune cell starting material needed for the DCVax®-L treatment, forming part of the personalised manufacturing process for an individual patient. Leukapheresis is an established procedure in which blood is collected and separated so that specific white blood cells can be obtained, while the remaining blood components are returned to the patient.

CMT is providing specialist cell processing and handling of cellular material to support the onward pathway.

The collaboration between NHSBT and Northwest Biotherapeutics brings together this clinical and operational expertise with the work of NWBio and Advent Bioservices in developing DCVax®-L in the UK.

The collaboration initially involves Leeds and Oxford. Building on this work, NHSBT, NWBio and Advent Bioservices are exploring the phased expansion of the model to additional NHSBT locations across England.

Ms. Linda Powers, CEO of Northwest Biotherapeutics, said:

"NHSBT's impressive expertise and facilities for advanced therapies are at the forefront of the field. We are very excited about collaborating with them on our DCVax®-L personalised immune therapies for cancer. We believe NHSBT’s capabilities can significantly enhance the scale-up and accessibility of DCVax®-L."

Dr James Griffin, Medical Director at NHSBT, said:

“The collaboration forms part of ongoing work between NHSBT, NWBio and Advent Bioservices to strengthen the infrastructure supporting the production of DCVax®-L in the UK. We aim to help make cutting edge advanced therapies more accessible. Alongside the planned expansion of the existing therapeutic apheresis and cell processing model, the organisations are also exploring opportunities for broader collaboration involving NHSBT’s specialist laboratory and advanced therapies capabilities."

NHSBT provides specialist Therapeutic Apheresis Services through units in Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Oxford, Plymouth and Sheffield. Its teams have extensive experience in specialist therapeutic apheresis, the collection of cellular starting materials and the processing and handling of cellular material used in advanced therapies.