Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult Annual Review
Accelerating growth in the advanced therapies industry
The Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult (CGT Catapult) is an independent innovation and technology organisation committed to delivering impact for the cell and gene therapy industry in the UK.
It delivers through the creation of powerful collaborations which overcome challenges to the advancement of the sector.
To advance the industry, we collaborate with...
academia and researchers,
to increase the flow and speed of translation of promising research into new therapies and supporting technologies...
industry,
to bring down the cost of goods and increase the capacity to meet the upcoming demand for advanced therapies...
healthcare services,
to increase access to clinical trials, uptake of approved products and bring down the cost of use.
The partnerships we have developed have helped to position the UK as a global leader in the development of advanced therapies. They continue to drive growth and investment in the development of advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) and realise value for the UK economy.
2022/23 Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult Outputs and Outcomes
- 69core projects
- 91collaborative projects
- 72international collaborations
- 39universities and research institutes collaborators
- 168companies collaborated with on ATMP innovation (49% of which are UK SMEs)
- £134mraised in 2022/23 by our UK collaborators in Stevenage
- £408min financing raised by our UK collaborators
- 23companies supported that are conducting clinical trials
- 7companies being supported with long-term GMP capability development and innovation
- 98companies supported with up-skilling and training
- 3,957people supported with up-skilling and training
- 252Advanced Therapies Apprenticeships Community apprentices employed
- 38companies in the UK that employed Advanced Therapies Apprenticeships Community (ATAC) apprentices
UK ATMP industry growth and CGT Catapult impact
- Annual investment in ATMPs£1.3b2021£1.7bn2022£0.77bn2023
- Total ATMP GMP manufacturing facility space31,800m²202140,000m²202252,733m²2023
- Phase III clinical trials carried out each year382021442022412023
- Increasing employment in advanced therapies and bioprocessing industries3,03320206,9562022
- Approved therapies reaching patients each year92021102022112023
A statement from Our Chairman
We are at an exciting time for the cell and gene therapy industry. Various pharmaceutical and research companies are working on experimental therapies which have potential to increase longevity and quality of life for many people.
Ian McCubbin, CBEChairman
To date, most advanced therapies that have come to market have been for rare diseases and specific cancer indications. Whilst medical advances in these areas are game-changing for those relatively few patients affected, we are now on the cusp of therapies becoming available for a range of more prevalent diseases. For example, millions of people globally have sickle cell disease, a genetic condition that affects the shape of red blood cells. Currently, people with this condition need to regularly take medicines or have blood infusions. While a bone marrow transplant can offer a cure, this is only possible for a limited number of individuals who have a suitable donor. Now, there are at least two companies close to having a gene therapy that treats this disease approved in the US.
Treatments like this, which address the cause of the disease rather than treat the symptoms, will not only revolutionise healthcare but will have further wide-ranging positive effects. For the economy, they could help people who are on long term sick leave and their carers return to work. At the same time, the industry that researches, develops and manufactures these therapies contributes to the economy through providing jobs and investment.
For businesses and the economy, the past year has been a challenging time, especially for life science start-ups seeking investment. Despite challenges, the UK advanced therapy industry as a whole has remained strong over this period.
A statement from Our Chief Executive
While the number of cell and gene therapies reaching approval is increasing, the advanced therapies industry remains nascent. For various ethical, technological and commercial reasons, the industry has started and flourished mainly in severe rare diseases and oncology, areas where patients and healthcare providers have the greatest unmet need.
Matthew DurdyChief Executive
The success that has been seen means that the industry is now applying the learnings and investment to higher prevalence conditions, such as haemophilia and Parkinson’s Disease. To accelerate this transition, various technological and market challenges must be overcome.
The healthcare system needs to be supported as it adapts from administering these treatments to a few patients locally to many patients globally.
We will need to employ the conventional pillars of competitive large scale manufacturing such as digitalisation and automation. In addition, we need to increase the pace of drug development, improve cost efficiencies for manufacture and use, and deliver more sustainable products and processes.
Discover how we support and progress the industry
Broadening the application of advanced therapies to more diseases
The industry has predominately brought advanced therapies for rare and complex conditions to market. These therapies have saved and improved many lives, for example, a treatment for spinal muscular atrophy, Zolgensma, has been delivered to over 3,000 children globally.
The gene therapy industry has developed new technologies, refined manufacturing and increased its understanding of the medical and supply chain challenges that are associated with advanced therapies. These learnings are now being directed at more prevalent conditions.
For cell therapies, there are many products in development. For example, clinical trials that use stem cell-derived islet cells to treat people with type 1 diabetes, aiming to restore the body’s own ability to produce and regulate insulin, are in advanced stages.
For there to be a thriving advanced therapies sector in the UK and globally, there needs to be many companies working in this space, developing a wide range of products for different diseases.
14% of global ongoing ATMP commercial trials in all Phases I – III5% of ongoing global ATMP clinical trials are active in the Advanced Therapy Treatment Centres (ATTC)6% increase in clinical trials in the UK compared to the previous year (178 trials ongoing in 2022)
Increasing access to more effective products
To accelerate the creation of a healthcare system where advanced therapies are widely available, there needs to be more products available with a lower cost of manufacture and use.
A major component of cost can be a lack of standardisation. Manufacturers need to work collaboratively, where possible, aligning manufacturing, logistical and quality assurance processes and practices. The diff erent methods and procedures often used can create unnecessary barriers to product adoption and administration by the healthcare system.
Increasing efficiency in production
The advanced therapy sector is reaching an inflection point where step changes in productivity, throughput and cost-effectiveness will drive realisation of the industry’s full potential.
Securing tomorrow’s workforce
Ensuring that the UK has a strong future talent base is foundational to growth of the advanced therapies sector. With levels of digitalisation and automation in the development and manufacturing of therapies increasing, there are jobs emerging at the cutting edge of technology, and there is a need to ensure that there is a pipeline of talent with the skills needed to create and operate these innovative technologies.
The future
Advanced therapies can significantly change the structure of healthcare, improvingpatient outcomes and quality of life. While there are now 11 advanced therapies approved and reimbursed in the UK, for diseases including specific forms of leukaemia, spinal muscular atrophy and retinitis pigmentosa, and over 2,000 are in clinical trials around the world, this industry is still young.
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Download the full Annual ReviewA quick look at the Financial Highlights
Income
| For year ended 31st March 2023 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innovate UK core grant funding | £19,400,000 | £14,500,000 | £14,200,000 | £15,800,000 |
| Third-party grant funding | £26,200,000 | £34,000,000 | £34,500,000 | £8,100,000 |
| Industrial Income | £23,600,000 | £25,300,000 | £21,200,000 | £14,900,000 |
| Total | £69,200,000 | £74,300,000 | £69,900,000 | £38,800,000 |
Balance Sheet
| For year ended 31st March 2023 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed assets | £82,500,000 | £81,800,000 | £74,600,000 | £56,300,000 |
| Net current assets | £30,400,000 | £34,400,000 | £28,300,000 | £12,500,000 |
| Creditors | (£11,600,000) | (£17,600,000) | (£17,100,000) | (£7,000,000) |
| Provision for liabilities | (£20,300,000) | (£19,900,000) | (£13,600,000) | (£10,300,000) |
| Net assets | £81,000,000 | £78,700,000 | £72,200,000 | £51,500,000 |
| Capital and reserves | £81,000,000 | £78,700,000 | £72,200,000 | £51,500,00 |
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