On Thursday morning, October 24, 2024, doctors, researchers, and other distinguished guests gathered at Tehran’s Spinas Palace Hotel for the official launch of DestroCell, Iran’s first allogeneic cell therapy product approved by the Food and Drug Organization of Iran. This milestone event highlights Iran’s advancements in cell therapy, setting a precedent for the region.
Dr. Nasser Aghdami, CEO of Taskin, shared the company’s vision to make advanced treatments like cell and gene therapies accessible within Iran. Dr. Aghdami, a prominent leader at Taskin, thanked the company’s key investor, Mr. Nazari, and emphasized Taskin’s dedication to turning academic research into accessible medical solutions. He also revealed that Taskin’s portfolio would soon expand to include a CAR T cell product for leukemia treatment.
Dr. Aghdami further noted that DestroCell’s journey to commercialization was made possible through the support of the Vice Presidency for Science, Technology, and Knowledge-Based Economy, along with the Food and Drug Organization of Iran. He explained that DestroCell’s efficacy, safety profile, and consistent success in independent trials worldwide secured its inclusion in Iran’s national drug list. Now mass-produced, DestroCell will soon be available to specialists for of treating graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) and other challenging inflammatory diseases once pricing is finalized by the authorities. Professor Ghanei, head of the Biotechnology and Knowledge-Based Economy department under the Vice Presidency for Science and Technology, spoke on the importance of fostering an environment that encourages the development of cell and gene therapies. He highlighted that Iran’s growing cell and gene therapy (CGT) industry is poised to follow the global market trend, which is projected to reach between $34.56 billion by 2032. Professor Ghanei anticipates that with the support of Iran’s numerous knowledge-based companies, the country could capture a meaningful share of this expanding market.
The event’s scientific segment featured presentations by Professors Olle Ringden and Behnam Sadeghi from Sweden’s Karolinska Institute. They discussed the clinical and pre-clinical studies of DestroCell, addressing questions from attendees and sharing insights into the latest research.
Dr. Sadeghi, the scientific lead behind DestroCell, outlined the challenges and breakthroughs in developing this cell therapy for untreatable inflammatory diseases. He shared how his team’s 20-year journey led to creating a cell therapy product that meets international standards, now recognized by Iran’s national drug registry and granted an IND license for Phase 2 clinical studies by the U.S. FDA. DestroCell holds several patents across Iran, the U.S., and world patent, marking it as a global innovation. DestroCell, as Iran’s first allogeneic cell therapy, stands as a breakthrough in cell therapy technology for Iran and the wider region.
The event concluded with the presentation of awards to early collaborators on the DestroCell project, including Dr. Abbas Haji Fatahali, Head of the Bone Marrow Transplant Center at Shahid Beheshti University, and Dr. Hossein Vatanpour from the Faculty of Pharmacy.