Tang Prize Honors CAR-T and TIL Therapy Pioneers in 2026 — The Tang Prize Foundation

Event summary

The Tang Prize in Biopharmaceutical Science awarded Drs. Steven A. Rosenberg, Michel Sadelain, and Carl H. June for pioneering CAR-T and TIL therapies.
CAR-T therapy has treated over 30,000 blood cancer patients since FDA approval in 2017.
TIL therapy has emerged as a new treatment option for advanced solid tumors, particularly metastatic melanoma.
Recent advances in 2026 include CRISPR-Cas9-based cell engineering and applications in autoimmune diseases and cardiac repair.

The big picture

The Tang Prize recognition underscores the transformative impact of cellular immunotherapy on cancer treatment. The field has evolved rapidly since the first FDA approval in 2017, with CAR-T and TIL therapies now offering life-saving options for patients with blood cancers and solid tumors. The expansion into new areas, such as CRISPR-Cas9-based engineering and autoimmune disease treatment, highlights the growing versatility of these 'living drugs.' The strategic significance lies in the potential for these therapies to address previously untreatable conditions, driving further innovation and investment in biopharmaceutical science.

What we're watching

Therapy Expansion: The pace at which CAR-T and TIL therapies expand into new indications, including autoimmune diseases and cardiac repair.
Regulatory Dynamics: How the FDA and other regulators adapt to the evolving landscape of cellular immunotherapy.
Commercialization: Whether Novartis and other biopharma companies can sustain the commercial success of CAR-T therapies.