#USA #Cambridge #CAR T-cell Therapy #Richard N. Merkin Prize #biomedical innovation

2025 Merkin Prize Awarded to CAR T-cell Therapy Innovators

On May 21, 2025, the prestigious Richard N. Merkin Prize in Biomedical Technology was awarded to four trailblazing scientists — Carl June, Bruce Levine, Isabelle Rivière, and Michel Sadelain. These innovators are recognized for their groundbreaking work in developing chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, a transformative approach in personalized cancer immunotherapy. Their collaborative efforts have revolutionized how doctors treat blood cancers, leading to significant advancements in the field of oncology.

Pioneering the Future of Cancer Treatment

The significance of CAR T-cell therapy lies in its ability to harness the patient’s own immune cells to target and eradicate cancer cells. The innovative procedure involves extracting T cells from a patient's blood, modifying them to recognize and attack tumor cells, and subsequently reinfusing them back into the patient. This method has resulted in effective treatments for over 45,000 patients worldwide, many of whom had exhausted all other treatment options, and has led to remarkable remissions in thousands of cases.

Dr. Richard Merkin, founder and CEO of Heritage Provider Network, articulates the profound impact of CAR T-cell technology: "This represents a defining moment in biomedicine — a transformative breakthrough demonstrating how bold scientific ideas can evolve into therapies that save lives."

Recognition and Reward

The $400,000 Merkin Prize recognizes the pivotal contributions of the awarded researchers in making CAR T-cell technology a reality that significantly improves patient health outcomes. The prize is administered by the Broad Institute, a leader in biomedical research, and honored by a committee of scientific experts from both academic and industry backgrounds.

"This is one of the most transformative breakthroughs in modern medicine," said Harold Varmus, Nobel laureate and chair of the selection committee. The work of June, Levine, Rivière, and Sadelain has laid the foundation for new classes of treatments, which have not only saved lives but also opened doors to further innovations in tackling serious diseases.

The Journey to Innovation

The idea of using the immune system to combat cancer has long been recognized, but the method of effectively directing this process remained elusive until the inception of CAR T-cell therapy. The journey began in the 1980s, with the original concept emerging numerous decades earlier. DR. Michel Sadelain, one of the innovators, explains how CARs were designed by merging antibody fragments with T-cell receptor mechanisms to create a new form of T-cell that could recognize and respond to cancer cells. This pioneering work in the 1990s set the stage for significant developments.

Alongside Sadelain were Carl June and Bruce Levine, who unfolded the incredible potential of engineered T cells with their research focusing on their durability and efficacy in pediatric HIV patients. Their findings established the groundwork for believing that engineered T cells could similarly be capable of fighting cancer.

Shaping the Future of Treatment

Working in tandem, the four scientists overcame significant hurdles to bring CAR T-cell therapy to the clinic. June and Levine's collaboration on patient T cell collection, reprogramming, and large-scale production established the feasibility of a targeted therapy. Meanwhile, Sadelain and Rivière introduced vital enhancements to help these engineered cells thrive and exhibit more robust responses against cancer.

The first clinical trial showcasing CAR T-cell therapy was a success; beginning in the late 2000s, it rapidly led to FDA approvals for therapies treating various types of blood cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma. In fact, the pioneering use of CAR T-cell therapy in clinical settings demonstrated unprecedented efficacy in patients with relapsed and refractory blood cancers.

Broadening Horizons

Today, seven CAR T-cell therapies have received FDA approval, demonstrating the immense potential that lies in extending this therapeutic innovation beyond cancer treatment. In recent studies, CAR T-cells have shown efficacy in autoimmune diseases and pose significant promise in treating various infectious diseases and age-related conditions.

As the field advances, new generations of CAR T-cells are expected to broaden their application, making personalized immunotherapy available to even more patients globally. The impact of the Merkin Prize is a testament to the invaluable contribution these scientists have made in the fight against cancer—a journey that continues to inspire hope for countless individuals facing this formidable disease.