Croatia to offer free CAR-T cancer therapy

Patients in Croatia will soon have access to CAR-T therapy, an advanced treatment that genetically modifies a patient's own T cells to attack cancer. 

The therapy is particularly promising for individuals with B-cell leukemia, multiple myeloma, and severe autoimmune diseases.

The Clinical Hospital Centre Sisters of Charity in Zagreb will provide CAR-T therapy free of charge, ensuring that patients don't face financial barriers to accessing this life-saving treatment.

"The plan is to spend the next two months gathering equipment and materials, and then begin production over the following six months," said Mladen Merćep, Director of the ZORA Foundation. "By July next year, we expect to be ready to receive our first patient."

Petar Gaćina, Head of the Department of Hematology, emphasized the importance of timely treatment: "Time is critical-every day, every hour matters when it comes to applying this therapy. By bringing CAR-T therapy to Zagreb, we can reduce the waiting time by 7 to 10 days, which can be crucial for these patients."

The introduction of CAR-T therapy in Croatia represents a major step forward in oncology care, offering new hope to patients who previously faced long delays to access this cutting-edge treatment.