Image source: Sheba Medical Center
Sponsored • Tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte therapy
Sheba Is Giving Europeans Greater Access to TIL Therapy for Metastatic Melanoma
Following the withdrawal of the EMA application for commercial TIL therapy, physicians across Europe face a difficult challenge: how to support patients with advanced melanoma when access to TIL remains limited. Ranked among the world's Top 10 hospitals by Newsweek for eight consecutive years and #7 globally in 2026, Sheba Medical Center in Israel is one of the world's leading centers for advanced cellular therapies, with more than 15 years of experience in TIL therapy.
Advanced cellular therapies are transforming the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases, but scientific breakthroughs alone are not enough. Delivering these therapies requires specialized infrastructure, advanced manufacturing capabilities, multidisciplinary expertise, and continuous research.
At a time when many European patients face limited access to these treatments, Sheba has built one of the world's most comprehensive cellular therapy programs.
Image source: Sheba Medical Center
Addressing Europe's Cell Therapy Challenge
For patients with advanced melanoma in Europe, access to tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy remains a challenge.
After the withdrawal of the manufacturer's European Medicines Agency (EMA) application, commercial access has stalled, leaving treatment available primarily through highly selective clinical trials. At Sheba Medical Center in Israel, TIL therapy is not an emerging concept—it has been an established clinical program for more than 15 years. During that time, Sheba has treated more than 200 melanoma patients with TIL therapy while advancing the field through clinical research and innovation.
A defining advantage is Sheba's Advanced Biotherapy Center (ABC), Israel's largest Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) compliant advanced biotherapy facility. Unlike many institutions that rely on external manufacturing, Sheba manufactures advanced cellular therapies on-site. This integrated approach brings together a multidisciplinary team of clinicians, researchers, and manufacturing specialists throughout the treatment process, helping accelerate innovation.
Image source: Sheba Medical Center
An Integrated Ecosystem for the Next Generation of Cellular Therapies
Sheba's leadership extends well beyond melanoma.
Under the leadership of Prof. Arnon Nagler, President of Sheba's Hemato-Oncology Center, Sheba has built one of the world's most advanced cellular therapy ecosystems. Alongside its internationally recognized TIL program, the center is advancing point-of-care CAR-T therapies for hematologic malignancies while pioneering CAR-T treatments for severe autoimmune diseases.
Research published in the world-renowned Haematologica journal demonstrated the advantages of Sheba's point-of-care CAR-T manufacturing model in comparison to commercial manufacturing:
Commercial CAR-T | Sheba’s Point-of-Care CAR-T |
|---|---|
| Vein-to-vein time: 38–44 days | 11 days |
| Centralized manufacturing | In-house manufacturing |
| Manufacturing success: 91–96% | 98.8% |
| Limited production capacity | Rapid access for eligible patients |
| Standard clinical outcomes | Comparable overall survival, progression-free survival, and non-relapse mortality despite treating patients with more advanced disease |
Today, Sheba's integrated model continues to redefine what is possible in cellular medicine. This commitment to research and medical excellence has earned international recognition: for eight consecutive years, Newsweek and Statista have ranked Sheba Medical Center among the World's Best Hospitals, most recently placing it #7 globally.
Image source: Sheba Medical Center
As advanced cellular therapies continue to evolve, Sheba remains at the forefront of translating scientific breakthroughs into life-changing treatments for patients from around the world.
Source: Sheba Medical Center
01.08.2026
