Only US$50K: India First CAR-T Patient Declared "Cancer-Free"

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Only US$50K: India First CAR-T Patient Declared “Cancer-Free”

Only US$50K: India First CAR-T Patient Declared “Cancer-Free”

India’s First CAR-T Patient Declared “Cancer-Free,” Treatment Costs Just 1/10th of Western Prices**

According to the *Indian Express*, Dr. VK Gupta, a 64-year-old gastroenterologist from Delhi, has been declared “cancer-free” after receiving the first domestically developed CAR-T therapy (NexCAR19) at Tata Memorial Hospital.

This breakthrough treatment was developed by ImmunoACT, a company founded through a collaboration between Tata Memorial Hospital and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay.

The therapy is now available in over 30 hospitals across more than 10 cities in India.

Only US$50K: India First CAR-T Patient Declared "Cancer-Free"

In October 2023, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) of India approved the therapy for commercial use, with Dr. Gupta becoming its first beneficiary.

Dr. Gupta had previously undergone a bone marrow transplant in 2022, which unfortunately failed. He then opted for CAR-T therapy, which cost him 4.2 million rupees (approximately US$50,000), a fraction of the price for similar treatments in Western countries, which could cost around 40 million rupees. Due to his 28 years of service in the Indian Army, all treatment costs were covered by the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS).

Dr. Hasmukh Jain, a hematologist and associate professor at Tata Memorial Centre’s Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research, and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), commented, “While it is too early to declare a lifetime cure, the patient currently shows no cancer cells.”

Regarding the success rate of the treatment, Dr. Jain noted that early-stage cancer patients have “better survival chances and a lower relapse rate.” He emphasized that it will take two years to determine the treatment’s long-term success. So far, all patients who have undergone this therapy at Tata Memorial Hospital are in complete cancer remission, with no detectable signs of cancer. Long-term data is needed to understand the potential timeline of relapse, if any.

In an interview with the *Indian Express*, Dr. Gupta reflected on his treatment, stating, “When my bone marrow transplant failed in 2022… as a doctor, I knew I had only a few months left to live. But CAR-T cell therapy saved me. I now feel like a soldier—tired but unwilling to give up.” Dr. Gupta was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Dr. Gupta shared, “My blood was collected in mid-November, and the T-cell infusion was administered on November 30. In just two weeks, my cancer cell count dropped significantly, and my hemoglobin levels began to rise.”

Dr. Rahul Purwar, Associate Professor of Biosciences and Bioengineering at IIT Bombay and Founder and CEO of ImmunoACT, explained, “Our therapy is tailored for B-cell lymphoma patients who are in a relapsed or refractory state. These patients have failed traditional therapies, such as chemotherapy, leading to relapse.”

The treatment outcome is evaluated at two critical points. “The first step is 28 days after the CAR-T cell infusion, when researchers perform a PET scan,” said Shirish Arya, ImmunoACT’s Co-Founder and Director of Corporate Strategy and Business Development.

“The second evaluation occurs three months later. These two milestones are crucial in determining the treatment’s success. The first three patients, including Dr. Gupta, have achieved complete remission, marking a significant positive outcome,” Arya added.

Dr. Gupta concluded, “My body has been declared cancer-free. I haven’t experienced any severe side effects, just some minor sinus-related issues. In fact, I resumed my OPD (outpatient department) work on February 2.”