Figure 1: Killer apps
Although small molecules and biologics will always have important therapeutic niches, there are numerous applications for which cells are better equipped. Four killer applications for cell-based therapeutics are shown: immune cells engineered to recognize and kill tumor cells, transplanted microbiota that detect and treat intestinal inflammation (e.g., Crohn’s disease) by producing an anti-inflammatory small molecule or biologic, a combination bacterial/mammalian cell therapeutic in which the bacterial cell converts dietary sugars into a nonabsorbed fermentation product and activates the production of a satiety-inducing hormone by the companion human cell therapeutic, and patient-specific stem cells for regenerative medicine (not discussed herein, but see [4]). iPSCs, induced pluripotent stem cells.
[Credit: C. Bickel – Science Translational Medicine]