"If CAR-T cell production is successful domestically, the treatment cost will be reduced to under 500 million dong instead of the billions of dong it costs overseas," said Dr. Phu Chi Dung, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Blood Transfusion Hematology Hospital. He spoke at a press conference on 16/9, marking the opening of three international and domestic conferences on blood transfusion, transplantation, and cell therapy. The conferences were attended by over 2,000 delegates, including nearly 350 international experts.
The first patient to receive CAR-T cell therapy was a 12-year-old girl diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, an aggressive form of blood cancer. After receiving immunotherapy in Taiwan in collaboration with the hospital, the girl returned to Vietnam for monthly maintenance treatment and has been healthy for over a year. Previously, she underwent chemotherapy but quickly relapsed, then received a haploidentical bone marrow transplant from her father, which also relapsed shortly after.
According to Dr. Dung, this is one of the most complex techniques in hematology, but it is also considered a major breakthrough in modern medicine. International studies show that CAR-T cell therapy helps destroy cancer cells, reduces the risk of relapse, extends life, and improves the quality of life for patients. However, the cost of treatment abroad is very high, potentially reaching tens of billions of dong per case. The girl received treatment in Taiwan because it was less expensive than other countries, but the cost still amounted to billions of dong.
To reduce the financial burden, the hospital has been preparing facilities, sending doctors, nurses, and technicians for training in Taiwan, and collaborating with international experts to move towards domestic production. The hospital is also conducting research projects at the Department level and aiming for projects at the Ministry of Health level. If successful, the cost could be significantly reduced, giving more blood cancer patients access to advanced technology without leaving the country.
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Doctors and nurses during the CAR-T cell therapy treatment in Taiwan for the girl from Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Hospital provided |
Doctors and nurses during the CAR-T cell therapy treatment in Taiwan for the girl from Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Hospital provided
The Ho Chi Minh City Blood Transfusion Hematology Hospital is a leading specialized hospital in the southern region and one of the top hospitals in Vietnam for blood transfusion and hematology. The hospital has pioneered many complex techniques and is currently the largest bone marrow transplant center in Vietnam. It implements most of the world's advanced techniques, such as stem cell transplantation, chemotherapy with the latest regimens, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.
"After mastering CAR-T cell therapy step by step, the next direction will be gene therapy, opening up more opportunities for cancer patients in Vietnam," said the hospital's director.
Le Phuong
