Keep up to date with advances in lymphoma research, consortium events and strategic partnerships at the Institut Carnot CALYM.

Highlights from UNITC’s First Session at the SFH Congress on In Vivo CAR Therapies

This year, the French Society of Hematology (SFH) Congress hosted, for the first time, a session led by UNITC. Created in 2024, UNITC is a consortium bringing together French research teams focused on cell and gene therapies, supported and accredited by the French National Cancer Institute (INCa). As a co-founding and active member of this consortium, the Institut Carnot CALYM was honored to participate in this inaugural UNITC session dedicated to in vivo CAR therapies — a bold and promising topic for the future of immunotherapy, improving patient access and the sustainability of cancer treatments.

The session featured insights from leading experts and opinion leaders in the CAR-T cell field. Discussions focused on the latest developments and challenges in the evolution of these next-generation therapies, with several notable presentations, including:

  • Roch Houot (CHU Rennes, LYSA) and Marion Alcantara (CellAction, Institut Curie, FITC) introduced the UNITC consortium and the “Cell and Gene Therapy Research” masterclass series.

  • Jaime Fuentealba (CellAction, Institut Curie) explained the science behind in vivo CARs and presented early preclinical results.

  • Carole-Anne Brugere (Institut Carnot CALYM) outlined the industrial landscape for in vivo CARs and shared insights into the first ongoing clinical trials.

  • Frank Neumann (Orna Therapeutics, USA) shared a case study of industrial development in in vivo CARs.

The session concluded with a roundtable discussion featuring key immunotherapy and CAR-T experts: Emmanuel Donnadieu (CNRS), Franck Perez (Institut Curie), André Baruchel (AP-HP), Bruno Quesnel (INCa), and Frank Neumann. They exchanged views on the opportunities and challenges researchers and industry face in developing these therapies — from CAR construct design to relevant preclinical models, strategic therapeutic positioning, and overcoming ethical and regulatory hurdles to ensure optimal patient access.

This event reflected a strong spirit of co-construction, essential in the face of rapidly evolving therapeutic innovations, particularly with the emergence of in vivo CAR options. Unlike traditional CAR-T therapies — often expensive, complex, and logistically demanding — in vivo CARs aim to simplify the production and care pathways, drastically reduce timeframes and potentially costs, and ultimately democratize access to these groundbreaking treatments.

The first in vivo CAR industrial clinical trials began internationally at the end of 2024, led by biotechs such as Interius, Umoja, and Esobiotec. In 2025, these First-in-Human Phase I studies are arriving in Europe, with the first trial sites opening in Germany and Spain. As of today, 15 biotechs are developing 24 drug candidates, 8 of which are already in Phase I (including 4 in Australia), with 6 more expected to enter trials by 2026.

While the potential is immense, so too is the challenge: making France a leading hub for early-stage clinical trials in this field. Success will depend on increasing the attractiveness of the French ecosystem — through streamlined regulatory procedures, better recognition of clinical expertise, industrial support via structures like UNITC, and strong political commitment to innovation.

 

Spotlight on Our Partnership with the Patient Association Ellye.

At the SFH Congress, we had the opportunity to take part in an insightful workshop with the advocacy committee of the patient association ELLyE – Ensemble Leucémie Lymphomes Espoir. It was a key moment of exchange that reinforced our shared commitment to ensuring that innovative treatments are accessible to the patients who need them most.

The goal of the workshop was to present in vivo CAR therapies to patients and patient representatives from Ellye, including an introduction to the scientific concept and the first industrial First-in-Human trials, which began at the end of 2024.

We then engaged in open dialogue about the opportunities and concerns perceived by patients, particularly regarding accessibility, side effects, and the coordination between researchers, industry, and regulators.

This exchange marks the beginning of a strategic and long-term collaboration between the Institut Carnot CALYM and Ellye, united by a shared mission: to ensure patients have real access to therapeutic innovations.

Looking ahead, we will continue working closely with Ellye to:

  • Facilitate patient access to innovative treatments by supporting translational research that bridges scientific discoveries with clinical application.

  • Better understand patient needs and expectations by involving their perspectives in the research and development process, ensuring these therapies genuinely address what matters most to them.

  • Support advocacy and awareness initiatives to promote recognition of lymphomas as diseases requiring personalized and innovative approaches.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Charlotte Roffiaen and Carole-Anne Brugère for their dedication and for making this meaningful exchange possible — paving the way for exciting and impactful future projects.

We look forward to continuing this journey together, working toward a brighter future for patients living with lymphoma.

 

 

Structuring Hematology Care Pathways with HemSys

Developed by and for hematologists, HemSys is a web app designed to support and structure Multidisciplinary Team Meetings (RCPs) in hematology, for both benign and malignant conditions. Freely accessible to all hematology departments, it is already in use across 14 centers and two national RCPs, with over 34,000 patients recorded and 66,000+ RCP forms completed.

HemSys stands out thanks to its ergonomic, intuitive, and interoperable interface. It enables the documentation of therapeutic decisions, the generation of Personalized Care Plans directly from the RCP form, and the long-term tracking of patients across multiple treatment lines. The platform also facilitates collective analysis of medical practices and the identification of discrepancies between guidelines and real-world care.

As a true care pathway structuring tool, HemSys provides a real-world data repository, updated daily and accurately reflecting field practices. It enables the generation of descriptive epidemiology reports tailored to each department’s needs, delivered within 12 weeks. This database offers a clear snapshot of therapeutic strategies, patient profiles, and the adoption curve of new treatments post-launch.

Through HemSys, the Institut Carnot CALYM strengthens its commitment to a more precise, transparent, and collaborative hematology, focused on the concrete improvement of patient care.

For questions or to join the HemSys community: support@hemsys.org

 

 

 

The next Redtalks’s episode #4

The Carnot CALYM Institute invites you to the 4th episode of Season 5 of RedTalks, its webinar series dedicated to open innovation in lymphoid malignancies.

Thursday, June 5, 2025
6:00 PM (CET)
With Dr. Markus Herrmann
Online – Free with registration

For this new episode, we’re delighted to welcome Dr. Markus Herrmann, expert in digital pathology and Senior Medical Director in Personalized Health at Roche. He will talk to us about one of the most promising topics in the field of anatomopathology and artificial intelligence:

Topic: Whole Slide Imaging: Towards a New Era of Digital Pathology in Clinical and Research Oncology

Why attend?
This RedTalk will explore how Whole Slide Imaging (WSI), combined with automated image analysis, is transforming pathology practices and opening new horizons for research and patient care in hematologic cancers.

A unique opportunity to learn more about:

  • The latest technological advances in digital pathology

  • Integration of WSI into clinical research workflows

  • Challenges in standardization, data analysis, and interpretation

  • The potential impact on clinical trials and personalized medicine

What is RedTalks?

RedTalks is a series of short, high-impact webinars hosted by the Carnot CALYM Institute, designed to foster dialogue between academic researchers, clinicians, and industry experts on the scientific and technological issues shaping the future of hematologic oncology.

Register now and join the conversation!
🔗 Registration link: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vYq4K_HFS-aC_im2_N7Tpw
📺 Watch past episodes on our YouTube channel: Institut Carnot CALYM