Smith says the HSE is already de facto funding CAR T-cell therapy. Two Irish children this year received the therapy in England, under the HSE Treatment Abroad Scheme. "Where we are with CAR T-cell therapy is not where we are going to be in five years' time," adds Professor Smith, who is the national clinical lead for children and adolescent/young adults (AYA) with cancer at the National Cancer Control Programme. CAR T is a new therapy but it's going to get bigger; it is going to be rolled out not just for leukaemia but also for other cancers such as ovarian cancer." Martin Pule and Claire Roddie's clinical trials are not yet available to Irish patients.

Source: Irish Independent October 26, 2019 01:30 UTC