Cellular medicine is making a major breakthrough in France by teaching the body to destroy its own tumors. Researchers are using a technique called **CAR-T therapy**, which involves modifying a patient’s white blood cells to recognize and attack cancer cells. This approach is part of a new class of medicine that combines cellular and genetic therapies, differing significantly from traditional cancer treatments like chemotherapy or radiation. The process involves extracting a patient’s white blood cells, altering their DNA to detect cancer, and then re-injecting them to fight the disease. This method offers the possibility of a single treatment that could potentially cure the illness. During a clinical trial called Eliana, nearly 80% of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who had exhausted all other treatment options achieved complete remission. Globally, **CAR-T** therapies are estimated to have saved more than 40,000 people, mostly those with aggressive forms of leukemia or lymphoma that do not respond to conventional treatments. However, the high cost of these treatments remains a major barrier. Each dose can cost more than 350,000 euros, and the treatment requires a month of hospitalization in a high-security environment, as well as complex logistical arrangements. Each **CAR-T** treatment is custom-made for an individual, requiring the shipment of cells under strict temperature control, their multiplication in bioreactors, and rigorous quality checks. The current method, known as ex vivo, involves creating the therapy outside the body, which is not fully covered by the French national health insurance system. As a result, only a small number of top hospitals can provide the treatment in a timely manner. In the United Kingdom, **CAR-T** is funded based on its effectiveness rather than the cost per dose. Meanwhile, the United States and China are exploring a different approach called in vivo therapy, which involves directly injecting a genetic vector into the patient’s body. This could simplify the treatment process. However, most clinical trials are still focused on ex vivo methods, with less than 3% exploring the in vivo approach. The high costs of **CAR-T** treatments are not only due to manufacturing but also to the extensive research and development required. Simplifying the process poses biological challenges, as the controlled environment of a laboratory is replaced by the unpredictable conditions of the human body, increasing the risk of side effects. Europe, while strong in research, faces difficulties in scaling up the production of these therapies due to a lack of industrial infrastructure. Initiatives like The Drug Cell aim to build a supply chain for cell therapy, but private investment remains limited. Béatrice de Keukeleire suggests that mobilizing savings, streamlining administrative processes, and designating cell therapy as a strategic priority could help Europe achieve greater autonomy in this field.