Regulatory systems and requirements for clinical trials of AAV-based gene therapies – Perspectives from six Asian countries or regions: Report from the 6th Asia Partnership Conference of Regenerative Medicine – April 20, 2023

Gene therapies, which include viral-vector gene delivery, genome editing, and genetically modified cell therapy, are innovative treatments with the potential to address the underlying genetic causes of disorders and to provide life-changing value in terms of curing disease. Although adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapy is one of the most advanced types of gene therapy, far fewer AAV-based gene therapy studies have been conducted in Asia than in North America and Europe. The 6th Asia Partnership Conference of Regenerative Medicine (APACRM) was held on April 20, 2023 in Tokyo, Japan. APACRM Working Group 3 comprehensively analyzed the regulatory processes that occur prior to the initiation of clinical trials as well as the regulatory requirements for AAV-based gene therapies for six Asian countries or regions (China, India, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan). In this article, we report the outcomes of this conference, summarizing the regulatory requirements for initiating clinical trials for AAV-based gene therapies in terms of the laws, regulations, and guidelines for gene therapy; consultations or reviews required by the health authorities; points to consider for scientific reviews by the health authorities; and specific challenges to address when developing gene therapy products in these locations. Finally, we present several policy recommendations, including simplifying the regulatory review system for multiple scientific review areas; simplifying the regulatory consultation system; and providing training programs and regulatory guidance to support the advancement of gene therapy development in Asia.