#11 – Jason Bock, CEO at CTMC

A Deep Dive into Cell Therapies: Jason Bock Shares his Journey to CTMC

In a fascinating discussion on the Bio Breakthroughs podcast, our host Jared Taylor sat down with Jason Bock, CEO at CTMC. With two decades of experience in the biotech industry, Jason shared insights on his career path, from developing novel therapeutics to commercializing biologics.

At CTMC, Jason and his team are pioneers in the development and manufacture of complex cell therapies. The company, born from a unique partnership with MD Anderson and National Resilience, aims to address the manufacturing challenges of autologous cell therapies to revolutionize cancer treatment.

Transformative Power of Cell Therapies

Jason is a staunch believer in the transformative potential of cell therapies, particularly in oncology. They are exploring a new paradigm of treatment where single doses could potentially cure patients, rather than merely extending their survival. The process involves taking a patient’s own immune cells, engineering them in a manufacturing facility, and reinfusing the modified cells back into the same patient.

While the process is complex, Jason believes in its potential to significantly change healthcare delivery. The ultimate mission? To end cancer entirely.

Overcoming Challenges in Cell Therapies

Despite the exciting potential, Jason acknowledges that the road to achieving this mission is fraught with challenges. The key blocker, he says, is the time and complexity involved in taking a novel therapy from development to patient use, and in proving its effectiveness.

For cell therapies, the supply chain begins with the patient, which adds another layer of complexity to the process. Through its unique partnership model, CTMC is working to expedite the process, allowing novel discoveries to reach patients faster while also ensuring a clear path to commercialization.

Painting a Picture of the Future

Looking to the future, Jason envisions a transformative shift in healthcare delivery. The goal is not just about helping cancer patients survive longer, but to move them from being cancer patients to being completely cured. He believes the next 10 to 15 years will bring about an unprecedented revolution in oncology treatment enabled by cell therapies.

Jason shares the story of Emily Whitehead, the first patient given CAR T cells, which underscores his belief in the potential of cell therapies. Emily, who was once riddled with cancer, has been cancer-free for 12 years since her treatment.

CTMC: Facilitating the Cell Therapy Revolution

CTMC, in its endeavor to revolutionize cancer treatment, is happy to share their story and invite interested parties to learn more about their mission and work. Jason highlights their ability to take novel research from the lab to the clinic in a rapid and efficient manner, which he believes can bridge the often-mentioned ‘valley of death’ in the biotech industry.