IIT Bombay’s Affordable CAR-T Cell Therapy
In a path breaking development in cancer treatment, researchers from the Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay have developed an indigenous and cost-effective Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy. Led by Rahul Purwar, along with team members Aalia N. Khan and Sweety Asija, this innovation, being displayed and demonstrated in IInvenTive 2024, promises to bring a revolutionary cancer treatment within reach of many, especially in resource-limited settings.
Cancer continues to be a formidable global health challenge, with India alone reporting 1.5 million cases annually. Current cancer treatments often offer only limited extensions to patient life expectancy. CAR-T cell therapy, a novel approach that has shown exceptional efficacy in treating certain types of cancer, was previously out of reach for many due to its exorbitant cost, approximately 400,000 to 500,000 USD per patient.
Addressing this critical gap, the IIT Bombay team has developed a “Make in India” CAR-T platform, significantly reducing the cost of this life-saving treatment. Their work, resulting in the development and patenting of anti-CD19 CAR-T therapy (PCT/IN2019/050111), has demonstrated remarkable anti-tumor efficacy and safety in Phase I/II clinical trials for relapsed/refractory (r/r) B-cell lymphomas and leukemia.
This pioneering work by IIT Bombay has led to the formation of ImmunoACT Pvt Ltd, an IIT Bombay spin-off company. ImmunoACT has recently obtained market authorization for the commercial use of this innovative CAR-T cell therapy, which is anticipated to be available at just a tenth of the cost of existing therapies. This significant reduction in price is expected to make this cutting-edge treatment accessible to a much broader patient population in India and other countries with limited healthcare resources.
The success of this affordable CAR-T cell therapy represents a major milestone in cancer treatment, offering new hope to millions of patients. It not only addresses the financial challenges associated with advanced cancer therapies but also positions India as a leader in biotechnological innovations in healthcare. This achievement underlines the importance of indigenous research and development in transforming healthcare outcomes, especially in countries with high healthcare cost burdens.
For further information on this significant development, Rahul Purwar can be contacted at purwarrahul@iitb.ac.in.
–Raja Aditya
