Cartherics was delighted to welcome Dr Michelle Ananda-Rajah to its facility for a tour of the company’s research, development and GMP-ready manufacturing facilities.

The visit provided an opportunity to showcase how Cartherics is advancing the development of off-the-shelf induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived CAR-NK cell therapies for high-impact women’s diseases, including ovarian cancer and endometriosis, while demonstrating the company’s integrated discovery-to-manufacturing capabilities.

During the visit, Senator Ananda-Rajah toured Cartherics’ GMP-ready manufacturing facility, where the team is producing clinical-grade product for the company’s upcoming first-in-human clinical trial of its lead CAR-NK cell therapy, CTH-401, for ovarian cancer. The visit highlighted the significant investment Cartherics has made in building advanced manufacturing infrastructure in Australia to support the translation of innovative cell therapies from the laboratory to the clinic.

The tour also showcased Cartherics’ end-to-end development platform, encompassing scientific discovery, process development and clinical manufacturing, which underpins its clinical translation ability. By bringing these capabilities together under one roof, Cartherics is helping strengthen Australia’s sovereign capability in advanced cell therapy manufacturing.

Discussions during the visit focused on the critical role of innovation, research investment and advanced manufacturing in supporting Australia’s biotechnology sector and ensuring Australian patients can benefit from cutting-edge therapies developed and manufactured locally. The discussion also highlighted the importance of maintaining a globally competitive innovation ecosystem in Australia.

“We were delighted to welcome Senator Ananda-Rajah to Cartherics and have the opportunity to showcase our platform, facility and people, and share the progress we are making as we prepare for our first clinical trial,” said Dr Ian Nisbet, Chief Executive Officer of Cartherics. “Building Australia’s capability to develop and manufacture advanced cell therapies is critical to giving patients access to world-first treatments, as well as supporting the growth of a globally competitive biotechnology industry.”

Cartherics thanks Senator Ananda-Rajah for taking the time to visit the team and for her interest in Australia’s rapidly growing cell and gene therapy sector. The company looks forward to continuing discussions on how collaboration between industry, researchers and government can help accelerate the development of life-changing therapies for patients.