Following the opening and welcome by AOP Health CEO Dr. Martin Steinhart, the discussion was moderated by Martin Pacher, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of brutkasten. It explored the opportunities and challenges of Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs) — from demanding manufacturing and logistics to complex regulatory frameworks.
A New Era for Living Medicines
The discussion highlighted how cell therapies, so-called Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs), are redefining medicine by using living cells as living medicines.
Dr. Christoph Ganss, Co-Founder and CEO of RHEACELL GmbH & Co. KG, described them as a “new pillar of modern medicine”, explaining that these therapies can unfold their regenerative potential directly in the patient’s body. He stressed that bringing them safely and affordably to patients requires Europe to invest in scalable production and a regulatory environment tailored to their unique nature.
From a clinical and academic perspective, Prof. Dr. Antonia Müller of the Medical University of Vienna emphasized that the field is entering its “prime time.” Translating scientific discoveries into viable treatments, she said, demands new infrastructures, such as Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) facilities for cell production, where products are made under strictly controlled quality standards. It also requires close cooperation between academia, startups, and industry to turn innovation into care and to establish sustainable reimbursement and funding schemes even during earlier clinical development.
Representing the patient community, Ernst Leitgeb of the Austrian Association for Patient Advocacy and Support (AAPAS/Bundesverband Selbsthilfe Österreich/BVSHOE) reminded the audience that innovation must start and end with patients. He called for transparent communication and the early inclusion of patient organizations in the development of new therapies, arguing that accessible, easy-to-understand information is essential for trust and engagement.
Joining remotely from Brussels, Victor Maertens, Government Affairs Director at EUCOPE, placed the debate in a broader European context. He underlined that Europe must act now to strengthen its competitiveness by harmonizing regulation, investing in skilled talent, and securing the entire value chain: from research and development to manufacturing and patient access.
Bringing the perspectives together, Melissa Fellner, Vice President Global Therapeutic Areas at AOP Health, concluded that realizing the promise of cell therapies will require “building bridges” across the European healthcare ecosystem. She called for fit-for-purpose regulations, value-based access models, and shared responsibility among science, industry, policymakers, and patients to ensure that innovative medicines reach those who need them most.
The evening concluded with an open networking session, where guests from science, healthcare, and policy continued the exchange on how Europe can turn scientific excellence into accessible innovation. Brustkasten, Austria’s leading media outlet for start-ups, the digital economy, and innovation, covered the event — read their article here.
