Can Novartis slim down CAR-T manufacturing timelines with its latest acquisition attempt?

Novartis has offered to buy a cell and gene therapy manufacturer in an ongoing effort to unclog a commercial rollout for its pioneering CAR-T therapy Kymriah that’s been slowed down by manufacturing woes. Set to become a wholly owned Novartis facility, CellforCure first signed an agreement to produce Kymriah in July 2018. With the tech transfer complete, the clinical supply production is expected to begin by mid-2019 - when the deal is expected to close.
The CDMO is based in Les Ulis near Paris, operating what it describes as one of the first and largest platforms in Europe for cell and gene therapy. Variability in product specifications has hampered Novartis’ ability to meet a demand for an incredibly complex treatment - which involves extracting T cells from patients, modifying them and then infusing patients with a therapeutic punch - and a revolving door at the cell manufacturing chief’s office didn’t help.