A risk assessment study of SARS-CoV-2 propagation in the manufacturing of cellular products.

Cell therapies are medicines based on the utilization of different cell types that are manufactured in special facilities. SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can infect a wide range of cell types. Patients requiring a cell therapy may be at higher risk of severe COVID-19 due to their underlying medical conditions. In this context, it is of importance to evaluate the risk of a SARS-CoV-2 contamination during the production of cell therapies to avoid possible infections. In this review, the authors assess the risk of an infection for cells being used as therapies to date and propose a systematic way to evaluate this risk.