India has made significant strides in CAR-T cell therapy with the development and approval of NexCAR19, the country's first indigenous CAR-T cell therapy.

In 2023, NexCAR19 became the first CAR T-cell therapy designed and approved in India, offering a significant advancement in cancer treatment. This therapy, developed by ImmunoACT, is a form of immunotherapy that genetically engineers a patient's T cells to target and destroy cancer cells. The therapy has shown promising results for B-cell cancers like leukemia and lymphoma and is now available in over 30 hospitals across more than 10 cities in India.

Key Points:

  1. Development: NexCAR19 was developed by Dr. Alka Dwivedi and her colleagues at IIT Bombay, aiming to create an indigenous CAR T-cell therapy tailored to meet the needs of cancer patients in India.
  2. Approval: The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization approved NexCAR19 in October 2023, making it India's first approved CAR-T cell therapy. Patient Success: Patients like Dr. VK Gupta have benefited from this therapy, with success stories of individuals being declared cancer-free after treatment.
  3. Cost: The therapy offers a more affordable option compared to international prices, with patients paying significantly less for treatment in India. The cost of CAR-T therapy in India is currently estimated to be in the range of Rs 30-40 lakh, with efforts to reduce it further to Rs 10-20 lakh to enhance accessibility.

India's breakthrough in CAR-T cell therapy signifies a significant step forward in cancer care, providing patients with access to cutting-edge treatments that were previously inaccessible or unaffordable.

Diseases Treated with CAR-T Cell Therapy in India

CAR-T cell therapy is currently approved and available in India for the treatment of certain B-cell malignancies, including:

  • B-cell lymphomas (aggressive forms)
  • B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) in patients aged 15 years and above

Hospitals Offering CAR-T Cell Therapy in India

Several leading hospitals across India have introduced CAR-T cell therapy for eligible patients:

  • Apollo Cancer Centres (ACCs): The first private hospital group in India to successfully complete CAR-T cell therapy. They now offer the indigenously developed "NexCAR19" (actalycabtagene autoleucel) CAR-T cell therapy.
  • Amrita Hospital, Kochi: The first hospital in Kerala to offer CAR-T cell therapy. They have partnered with ImmunoACT, an IIT Bombay incubated company, to provide this treatment.
  • Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai: One of the pioneering centers involved in the development and clinical trials of NexCAR19, India's first homegrown CAR-T cell therapy.

Other hospitals across major cities: As of 2024, over 30 hospitals across more than 10 cities in India are offering NexCAR19 CAR-T cell therapy. The development of NexCAR19, a more affordable and indigenously produced CAR-T cell therapy, has been a significant milestone. It was developed through a collaboration between IIT Bombay, Tata Memorial Centre, and ImmunoACT, with guidance from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in the United States. This has made advanced cancer immunotherapy more accessible to patients in India.

NexCAR19

India has made a significant breakthrough in CAR T-cell therapy with the development and approval of NexCAR19, the country's first indigenous CAR-T cell therapy. Here are the key updates:

Development and Approval

NexCAR19 was developed by Dr. Alka Dwivedi and her team at IIT Bombay, in collaboration with Tata Memorial Centre and ImmunoACT, a spin-off company from IIT Bombay. In October 2023, NexCAR19 became the first CAR T-cell therapy designed and approved in India by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization. It is a "humanized" CAR T-cell therapy carrying a more human-like antibody to reduce immune rejection and severe side effects.

Clinical Trials and Efficacy

The approval was based on two small clinical trials involving 64 patients with advanced lymphoma or leukemia in India. 67% of patients showed a notable decrease in cancer (objective response), with complete cancer remission in about half of the patients.

Affordability and Accessibility

NexCAR19 is expected to cost around $50,000 (Rs 30-40 lakh), significantly lower than the $400,000 cost in the United States, making it more affordable and accessible. ImmunoACT aims to treat around 1,200 patients per year initially and plans to establish additional manufacturing sites across India to enhance accessibility.

Launch and Significance

On April 4, 2024, President Droupadi Murmu officially launched NexCAR19 and dedicated it to the nation, hailing it as a "major breakthrough" and "new hope" in the battle against cancer. NexCAR19 is touted as the world's most affordable CAR-T cell therapy, putting India firmly on the global map of advanced cell and gene therapy. The development of NexCAR19 is a result of academia-industry partnership and an example of the 'Make in India' initiative, showcasing Indian scientific and medical capabilities. India's breakthrough in CAR-T cell therapy with NexCAR19 marks a significant step forward in providing affordable and accessible cancer treatment, particularly for low- and middle-income countries.

Sources:
Cancer.gov
India today.in
Times of India President of India Launches India’s First Home-Grown Gene Therapy
Amrita Hospital, Kochi, Introduces Revolutionary CAR T-cell Therapy
India’s First Homegrown CAR T-Cell Therapy Has Roots in NCI Collaboration
India celebrates first homegrown CAR T-cell therapy

Links
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