United states: Perseverance, unconventional thinking, and a strong commitment to patients were among the forces behind decades of work that helped turn immune cells into cancer-fighting medicine, said the three 2026 Tang Prize laureates in Biopharmaceutical Science, who helped revolutionize cancer treatment. Steven A. Rosenberg, Michel Sadelain, and Carl H. June were named winners of this year's prize on Tuesday for the discovery and development of tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapies, which harness patients' own immune cells to fight cancer.
According to Focus Taiwan, the Tang Prize Selection Committee stated that the three laureates' work in cancer immunotherapies has "revolutionized" treatment for blood cancers and solid tumors by helping transform the patient's immune system into "a powerful medicine." In separate interviews with CNA in the United States before the official announcement, the three awardees reflected on the ideas, setbacks, and persistence behind their achievements.
Rosenberg, who heads the U.S. National Cancer Institute's Surgery Branch, emphasized the importance of learning from patients. He began his work more than four decades ago when immunotherapy was a novel concept. Rosenberg highlighted a pivotal case where a kidney transplant recipient's cancer regressed after stopping immunosuppressive drugs, suggesting that a properly activated immune system might destroy cancer. His development of TIL therapy has since shown significant success, with studies indicating tumor regression in 56 percent of patients.
Sadelain, a professor of medicine at Columbia University, discussed how his team faced initial skepticism when developing CAR-T cell therapy. The therapy involves genetically modifying a patient's T cells to better recognize cancer cells. Sadelain described CAR-T cell therapy as a "living drug," emphasizing the need for resilience in scientific pursuit, as big ideas often face rejection before success.
June, from the University of Pennsylvania, shared the challenges of persevering through decades of research. His team first treated patients with CAR-T cells in 2010, achieving groundbreaking results in leukemia treatment. June highlighted the potential for future advancements, comparing current CAR-T treatments to early versions of computer software, with many improvements yet to come.
The Tang Prize, established by Samuel Yin in 2012, honors significant contributions in sustainable development, biopharmaceutical science, sinology, and the rule of law. The laureates in each category share a cash award of NT$40 million (US$1.26 million) and a research grant of NT$10 million.