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Works in Progress ·Future-gazing

The Blood Cancer That Became Solvable

by Works in Progress

Published 2026-06-05 14:53:36+00:00

If the science behind a cure is American, why did it have to be developed in China?

0:00 / 22:26 · Narrator Sulafat

Context

Writing on 5 June 2026, Ruxandra Teslo and Amol Punjabi follow the path of a breakthrough cancer therapy that began in American labs but reached patients through a Chinese startup. The story of Carvykti offers a window into a larger shift in global medicine, where the speed of clinical trials is beginning to matter as much as the foundational science. The piece observes how regulatory friction in the West has allowed other ecosystems to move faster, turning a victory for patients into a quiet warning about the future of American biotechnology.

Show notes

The development of Carvykti, a CAR-T therapy for multiple myeloma, reflects a realignment in global drug discovery. While the foundational science originated in the United States, the treatment’s clinical success was driven by China’s streamlined regulatory environment and rapid trial iteration. A comparison of American and Chinese clinical trial ecosystems identifies the regulatory factors currently influencing the commercialization of novel immunotherapies.

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