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The increasing utilization of cell and gene therapy in the treatment of human diseases, particularly cancers, has led lawmakers to institute stringent rules to regulate this new area of medicine and optimally protect patients. Cell and gene therapy centers, often located within academic institutions, are becoming subject to rules previously applied only to pharmaceutical companies. Based on the US experience, we review here the regulations that currently regulate or are being proposed to cover cell and gene therapy centers. We describe the principles of good manufacturing practices, quality assurance and quality control and accreditation. Finally, we discuss the future of cell and gene therapy in the context of the increasingly rigorous regulatory environment implemented in the US.

Cell therapy can be defined as "the in vivo use of autologous, allogeneic or xenogeneic cells for the prevention, treatment or attenuation of disease". There have been major advances in this field in the last few years, leading to many clinical applications. Because of safety and ethical concerns, the therapeutic use of cells products justified to be regulated. In France, the law number 96-452 and the law number 98-535 defined a specific regulatory framework for these products: previous authorisation is required for the site of preparation of therapeutic cells product, for clinical trial relating to cell therapy products and for their therapeutic use. Some Cell therapy products could be considered as proprietary medicinal product. The authorisation for the site of preparation and for the clinical trial are granted by the French Health Products Agency ("Afssaps"). Depending on the status, the product could be authorised by Afssaps or by the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (EMEA). Whatever the status, the quality and security of these products should be controlled and the therapeutic use validated. In Europe, such products are currently regulated under the varying national laws of each member states. A European regulation must be defined for cell based products., (John Libbey Eurotext 2003)

Cellular therapies offer new promise for the treatment of a variety of diseases. In order to protect patients and donors, the Food and Drug Administration in the USA has been developing specific regulations. These have undergone several iterations, however, a broad-based strategy has recently emerged. These proposals are reviewed and their impact on academic institutions is assessed.