⇒ The Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy has emerged as a breakthrough in cancer treatment. Its Clinical trials have shown promising results in end stage patients, especially in patients suffering from Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia.
Each patient’s CAR-T cell therapy costs 3-4 crore (INR). In order to promote and support development of CAR-T cell technology against cancer and other diseases, BIRAC and DBT have taken initiatives and launched specialized calls to invite proposals in the last 2 years.
First CAR-T cell therapy in India:
Department of Biotechnology supported First CAR-T cell therapy (a type of gene therapy) was done at the Bone Marrow Transplant unit at ACTREC, Tata Memorial Center in Mumbai on 4 June 2021.
The CAR-T cells were designed and manufactured at Bioscience and Bioengineering (BSBE) department of IIT Bombay. This work is partly supported by BIRAC-PACE scheme.
It was a historic day for Tata Memorial Hospital, IIT Bombay team and cancer care in India.