The ‘Big-5’ tertiary hospitals in Korea are working fast to introduce the first CAR-T therapy ‘Kymriah’ to their institutions.

According to industry officials, among the Big-5s, Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH), Asan Medical Center (AMC), Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, and Severance Hospital are in the process of acquiring the ‘human cell management business approval’ from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, and Samsung Medical Center (SMC) already obtained the approval.

In Seoul National University Hospital, Kymriah (tisagenlecleucel) passed the drug committee (DC) review in April, and the drug is also expected to land in Samsung Medical Center in May.