Major Categories of Immunotherapy
Medical Supporter — Information Notice
This article is a summary of international medical information and is not medical advice; it cannot replace the diagnosis or treatment plan of your attending physician. The medical technologies, drug information and clinical data presented here are compiled from public literature and official statements of Japanese medical institutions; the applicability and outcome of any therapy vary with each patient and must be assessed individually by a qualified physician.
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One of the most common questions we receive is: "I want to do immunotherapy, but I don't know which type is right for me." Here is Medical Supporter's answer for your reference.
Immunotherapy is divided into cellular immunotherapy (also called immune cell therapy — where immune cells are extracted, cultivated and processed, then reinfused into the body) and molecular immunotherapy (also called immune drug therapy — such as the drugs from Merck and BMS using PD-1 antibodies). In Japan, cellular immunotherapy is provided by medical institutions that have submitted a regenerative medicine provision plan under the Act on the Safety of Regenerative Medicine; for access outside Japan, please check with local medical institutions. To make this easier to understand, Medical Supporter has added an illustrated reference table on the homepage.
In practice, the actual use and indications must be determined by a qualified physician. As a final note: cellular immunotherapy is a supplementary therapy — please consult your attending physician and carefully evaluate whether it is appropriate for your situation.
Simply put: "In Japan, cellular immunotherapy is provided at medical institutions that have submitted the required plan; for other regions, please check with local medical institutions."
Medical Supporter was formerly certified as an international medical visa guarantor by Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (B-066).
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