CTMC, a joint venture between Resilience and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, has announced a strategic collaboration with Einstein Hospital Israelita in São Paulo, Brazil, to accelerate the development, manufacturing, and adoption of advanced cell therapies across Brazil and Latin America. The partnership marks a significant milestone for both organizations, as Einstein becomes the first international member of CTMC’s Global Cell Therapy Network Alliance—a consortium created to expand global access to cell-based treatments through shared expertise, infrastructure, and training.
“We’re honored to welcome Einstein Hospital Israelita as the first international member of our alliance,” said Amy Hay, Chief Business Officer of CTMC. “The CTMC Network Alliance program creates value through sharing proprietary reagents, providing in-depth training programs, and fostering ongoing strategic alignment. Our mission is to increase access to cell therapy globally, and with CTMC’s experience, we are uniquely positioned to bring together leaders in cell therapy to form a global community focused on democratizing access to these transformative treatments.”
Einstein Hospital: A Latin American Leader in Cell Therapy
Einstein Hospital Israelita, ranked the number one hospital in Latin America and 22nd globally by Newsweek, has established itself as a pioneer in cellular immunotherapy. The institution was the first in Latin America to administer CAR-T (chimeric antigen receptor T-cell) and CAR-NK (natural killer cell) therapies—two of the most advanced approaches in modern cancer treatment.
Dr. Lucila Kerbauy, a leading hematologist at Einstein, completed her fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center, where she specialized in NK cell immunotherapy derived from umbilical cord blood. Upon returning to Brazil, she applied her expertise to expand access to these groundbreaking therapies and advance translational research in tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy. Her work, now in partnership with CTMC, will further accelerate the integration of next-generation cellular immunotherapies into clinical practice throughout Latin America.
Latin America’s Emerging Cell Therapy Market
The Latin American cell therapy market generated more than $46 million in revenue in 2023 and is projected to grow at an annual rate of 15%, reaching approximately $129 million within five years, according to recent industry analyses. This growth is driven by an aging population, rising cancer incidence, and growing awareness of personalized medicine.
Brazil stands at the forefront of this transformation, accounting for over half (52.5%) of the regional cell therapy market. The country has invested heavily in biomanufacturing and translational research infrastructure, positioning itself as a hub for regenerative and precision medicine. However, despite these advances, access to cell therapy remains limited. More than 90% of cancer patients in Latin America still lack access to cellular immunotherapies, primarily due to the scarcity of trained clinicians, limited manufacturing capacity, and insufficient regulatory harmonization across the region.
Einstein Hospital aims to bridge this gap. With its robust infrastructure—including a GMP-compliant cell therapy manufacturing facility and cord blood bank—Einstein is uniquely positioned to expand clinical access and enable more patients to benefit from cell-based treatments. The hospital is already offering CAR-T therapies for hematologic malignancies such as non-Hodgkin lymphoma and acute lymphoblastic leukemia, as well as exploring applications in ophthalmology, neurology, orthopedics, and rheumatology.
“Einstein has always been at the forefront of medicine, pioneering therapies such as CAR-T and CAR-NK in Latin America,” said Sidney Klajner, President of Einstein. “Now, through our partnership with the CTMC Network Alliance, we will take another major leap forward—building a center of excellence in precision medicine that will benefit not only Brazil but the entire region.”
A Vision for Global Cell Therapy Collaboration
The CTMC Network Alliance was established to create a global framework for cell therapy development and manufacturing, fostering collaboration among world-class institutions and industry partners. Its mission is to reduce barriers to access by connecting hospitals, researchers, and manufacturers through shared infrastructure, technical know-how, and standardized operating procedures.
Members of the Alliance gain access to CTMC’s comprehensive ecosystem of resources, including:
- Education and workforce development programs for clinicians, scientists, and manufacturing teams.
- Standardized operating procedures and quality systems to streamline regulatory compliance.
- Proprietary reagents and process materials to accelerate preclinical and clinical development.
- Collaborative networks for translational research and therapeutic development.
By combining local expertise with CTMC’s global manufacturing and process development capabilities, Alliance members can accelerate clinical adoption and scale manufacturing operations for cell therapies in their respective regions.
“Cell therapy democratization requires collaboration on a global scale,” said Jason Bock, CEO of CTMC. “By partnering with Alliance members, we can help them develop local processing and manufacturing capabilities. We’re proud to have Einstein as our first international member and look forward to sharing our deep experience in the development and manufacture of TIL therapies.”
Building a Patient-Centered Manufacturing Model
CTMC’s integrated model emphasizes patient-adjacent manufacturing, a framework that brings production capabilities closer to hospitals and treatment centers. Unlike traditional centralized biomanufacturing, this approach reduces logistical complexity, shortens turnaround times, and ensures that therapies remain closely connected to the patients they serve.
The collaboration with Einstein represents a crucial step toward realizing this vision across Latin America. By aligning scientific, clinical, and operational resources, CTMC and Einstein aim to establish a network of regional manufacturing hubs that can deliver high-quality, personalized cell therapies efficiently and cost-effectively.
This decentralized model could become a blueprint for global expansion, enabling hospitals worldwide to establish self-sustaining cell therapy centers. These centers would be capable of manufacturing and delivering advanced cellular medicines locally—dramatically improving patient access and outcomes.
A Global Commitment to Transformative Care
The CTMC–Einstein partnership reflects a shared commitment to democratizing access to precision medicine. Together, the two institutions aim to advance the field of cell therapy not only through clinical application but also through education, training, and collaborative research.
By combining CTMC’s process development and manufacturing expertise with Einstein’s clinical leadership and regional influence, the alliance will help shape the future of regenerative medicine in Latin America and beyond.
In the words of CTMC’s Amy Hay, “Partnerships like this are how we change the trajectory of global health. By aligning with visionary institutions like Einstein, we can make the promise of cell therapy a reality for patients everywhere.”
Through this collaboration, CTMC and Einstein Hospital Israelita are setting a precedent for how international cooperation can overcome geographic and logistical barriers, turning innovation into accessibility—and transforming the future of global healthcare.
