Image source: Sheba Medical Center
Sponsored • TIL Therapy for Advanced Melanoma
Why Germans & Austrians Choose Sheba for TIL Therapy & Melanoma Care
When local access for TIL therapy is limited in Europe, Sheba Medical Center in Israel offers more than 15 years of experience, in-house cell manufacturing, and an integrated research and treatment program.
For patients with advanced melanoma in Germany and Austria, tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy remains difficult to access. The withdrawal of the commercial manufacturer’s European Medicines Agency (EMA) application disrupted the expected rollout across Europe, leaving treatment largely confined to highly selective clinical trials.
This creates a critical gap for patients whose melanoma has progressed despite standard therapies.
Image source: Sheba Medical Center
Bridging Germany & Austria’s TIL Therapy Gap
For many patients in Germany and Austria, access to TIL therapy is currently limited by the lack of commercially available treatment. While access remains largely restricted to clinical trials, Sheba Medical Center has been delivering TIL therapy as part of an established clinical program for more than 15 years.
Today, Sheba is home to one of the world's most experienced TIL programs, having treated more than 200 melanoma patients. At the heart of the program is Sheba's Advanced Biotherapy Center (ABC), Israel's largest Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) compliant advanced biotherapy facility.
This integrated model is a key differentiator. Rather than relying on external or centralized manufacturing, Sheba coordinates tumor collection, cell expansion, treatment planning, infusion, and follow-up within a single institution.
Image source: Sheba Medical Center
Innovation Beyond Melanoma
Sheba's cellular therapy leadership extends beyond melanoma. Under the leadership of Prof. Arnon Nagler, President of the Hemato-Oncology Center, Sheba continues to advance point-of-care CAR T-cell therapy for hematologic malignancies while pioneering research into CAR-T treatment for severe autoimmune diseases.
Sheba's integrated model brings together laboratory research, in-house manufacturing, clinical trials, and patient care, accelerating the translation of scientific discoveries into treatment.
The strength of this approach was demonstrated in research published in Haematologica. Sheba's locally manufactured CAR-T achieved a 98.8% manufacturing success rate and an 11-day vein-to-vein time, compared with 38–44 days for commercial products. Despite treating patients with more advanced disease characteristics, clinical outcomes remained comparable to commercial CAR-T therapies.
Image source: Sheba Medical Center
Supporting International Patients Every Step of the Way
For German and Austrian physicians seeking advanced treatment options that are not yet widely available locally, Sheba offers more than innovative therapies—it provides a dedicated support system for international patients from referral through recovery.
Every international patient is assigned a personal Global Patient Services coordinator who serves as a single point of contact throughout treatment. Coordinators provide assistance in the patient's native language, translate medical information and physician instructions, and help ensure clear communication every step of the way.
The team also assists with travel logistics, including guidance on visas, transportation, and accommodations for patients and their families, helping make treatment in Israel as seamless as possible.
Image source: Sheba Medical Center
For eight consecutive years, Newsweek and Statista have ranked Sheba Medical Center among the World's Best Hospitals, most recently at #7 globally—recognition that reflects its sustained leadership in research, medical excellence, innovation, and patient-centered care.
Source: Sheba Medical Center
06.08.2026
