Every December, the American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting brings together thousands of hematology professionals from around the globe to share cutting-edge research, innovative therapies, and transformative ideas. Hematology stands at the forefront of medical innovation, specializing in diseases such as leukemia, lymphoma, and other blood disorders that affect millions of lives worldwide. This year, San Diego once again served as a temporary hotspot for knowledge-sharing and collaboration in hematology – and Galapagos was proud to contribute. Read further for our ASH 2024 recap!
The Burden of Blood Cancers
Blood cancers, including leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma, significantly impact global health. Leukemia alone accounted for approximately 474,519 new cases and 311,594 deaths worldwide, while non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) contributed an estimated 544,352 new cases and 259,793 deaths. Multiple myeloma added about 176,404 new cases and 117,077 deaths globally.¹ These figures, reported in 2020, highlight the ongoing burden of blood cancers and the critical need for innovative treatments.
Approximately every 3 minutes, one person in the United States is diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma
Despite advancements in therapies like cell therapy, significant unmet needs remain. Approximately 70% of eligible patients in the U.S. do not receive CAR-T therapy due to limited capacity, complex logistics, and restricted access.2 These numbers underscore the urgency of developing scalable, accessible solutions for patients.
That’s why we were thrilled to share the progress we’re making in decentralized cell therapy manufacturing and the updates from our clinical studies at ASH 2024.
Hear from our colleagues at ASH 2024
Experience the ASH through the eyes of our colleagues, as they reflect on the highlights and impactful moments from this year’s congress, showcasing Galapagos’ commitment to innovation in cell therapy
A Proud Moment
Among the most anticipated moments of the conference for Galapagos were the oral presentation of our ATALANTA-1 study and the poster presentation of our EUPLAGIA-1 study. These highlighted progress in relapsed/refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma (R/R NHL) and in relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (R/R CLL) with and without Richter transformation (RT). For patients and clinicians, blood cancers like NHL and CLL remain a significant challenge, with those experiencing relapse often requiring innovative approaches aimed at extending survival and improving quality of life.
“Shorter vein-to-vein time can lead to improved patient outcomes and remains an important unmet need in CAR-T therapy,” said Marie José Kersten, MD, ATALANTA-1 Principal Investigator and Professor of Hematology at the Department of Hematology at Amsterdam University Medical Center
Jeevan Shetty, MD, Head of Clinical Development Oncology: “Seeing the data being presented by Dr. Prof. Marie José Kersten, professor of hematology at Amsterdam University Medical Centers and Principal Investigator for our ATALANTA-1 study, to such an engaged audience was a proud moment. It’s not just about the science or our innovative decentralized cell therapy manufacturing approach. It’s about the possibilities this represents for patients. The questions and discussions following the session underscored that we’re not the only ones convinced of the potential of a decentralized cell therapy model for driving meaningful innovation and positive impact for patients.”
The ATALANTA-1 results underscore the promise of Galapagos’ seven-day vein-to-vein manufacturing platform, a potential paradigm shift designed to bring cell therapies closer to patients. Jeevan: “CAR-T therapies are highly personalized treatments that currently undergo a time-intensive manufacturing process taking multiple weeks to months. For many patients with rapidly progressing cancers, every day counts, and treatment delays can be detrimental. With precision and speed, we aim to provide physicians with tools designed to address the urgent needs of critically ill patients. The combination of fresh cells and a median vein-to-vein time of 7 days demonstrates potential for improving outcomes, reflecting our commitment to advancing patient care in oncology.”
Sparking Imagination on Stage
Jeevan Shetty, MD (left) and Jacqueline Vink (right) on stage during Galapagos’ Company Showcase at ASH 2024
After last year’s queue for our Company Showcase*, we were curious to see how much interest our journey in cell therapy would generate this year. Turns out it’s still sparking the imagination, with a full room for Jacqueline Vink (Head of Global Cell Therapy Operations) and Jeevan.
Jeevan: “ASH always serves as a reminder of how far we’ve come as a field while challenging us to think bigger. This year, we had the opportunity to share not only our data but also the vision driving our work. Seeing how hematology professionals responded to our differentiated approach in cell therapy reinforces that what we’re doing resonates and truly matters to them.”
Jacqueline agreed: “We’re innovating the cell therapy landscape with decentralized manufacturing, we’re aiming to deliver fresh, fit, stem-like cells – close to patients, with the ambition to reshape access and improve outcomes in oncology. Having a full room is one thing but hearing what attendees took away from our showcase, and the thoughtful questions about our innovative approach afterward is an even better indicator of impact.”
Busy Booth: Building on the Foundation
Michael Toth and Vivian Tegelbeckers at the Galapagos Booth during ASH 2024
The Galapagos booth at ASH 2024 was a vibrant hub of conversations and connections, providing attendees with an in-depth look at our oncology pipeline in both hematology and solid tumors, and our decentralized cell therapy manufacturing platform. It also highlighted the updates from our ongoing clinical trials.
Reflecting on the discussions at the booth, Michael Toth, US Head of Strategy, shared: “Our journey at ASH began in 2022, and each year, we’ve added to that foundation. This year, alongside our ongoing focus on decentralized manufacturing, we shared updates from our oncology pipeline and clinical trials. Together, these elements form a broader story of how we’re working to innovate in cell therapy. The enthusiasm and engagement from attendees about what we are doing in this space were truly energizing.”
Collaboration in Solid Tumors
John Mellors: “About 10% of cancer deaths are caused by blood cancers, a significant burden. The remaining 90% are attributed to solid tumors.”
At the heart of Galapagos’ mission is collaboration, exemplified by our work with Adaptimmune. In May 2024, we entered into a clinical collaboration agreement with the Philadelphia-based biotech, with an option to exclusively license their next-generation TCR T-cell therapy candidate in head & neck cancer, and potential future solid tumor indications.
Together, Adaptimmune and Galapagos are conducting a clinical proof-of-concept study in head & neck cancer to evaluate the safety and potential efficacy of the cell therapy candidate produced using Galapagos’ decentralized cell therapy manufacturing platform.
At ASH 2024, Adaptimmune presented the preclinical proof-of-concept data, highlighting the potential of Galapagos’ innovative decentralized cell therapy manufacturing platform beyond CAR T-cell therapy and hematology.
John Mellors, Head of Cell & Antibody Therapy Discovery, shared his thoughts after attending the presentation: “About 10% of cancer deaths are caused by blood cancers, a significant burden. The remaining 90% are attributed to solid tumors, where the potential of cell therapy remains largely untapped.3 The progress presented by Adaptimmune and Galapagos at ASH 2024 highlights our collaborative approach to innovation and our commitment to developing transformational cell therapies that address the unmet needs of patients with solid tumors.”
Looking Toward the Future
As ASH 2024 ended, we left San Diego with a renewed sense of purpose, and we’re taking that momentum into 2025. To everyone who joined us on this journey – whether at our presentations, our booth, or through passing conversations – we thank you. Together, we’re not just envisioning a better future; we’re building it!
Sources
1 International Agency for Research on Cancer. (2020). Leukemia (Cancer Fact Sheet). Global Cancer Observatory. Retrieved from https://gco.iarc.who.int/en
2 Evidence-Based Oncology, October 2023, Volume 29, Issue 8
3 ACS Cancer Statistics 2020
* The Galapagos Company Showcase is not an official event of the 66th ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition. This presentation is not sponsored or endorsed by ASH. Not CME-accredited.
Our decentralized approach in cell therapy
Galapagos’ innovative decentralized cell therapy manufacturing platform has the potential for the administration of fresh, fit, stem-like, early memory cells within a median vein-to-vein time of seven days, greater physician visibility, and improved patient experience.