Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Nov 5: India has achieved a major milestone in medical science with NexCAR19, the world’s first humanised CAR-T (Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell) therapy, which has made gene-based cancer treatments both affordable and accessible without compromising on quality or patient safety, the Ministry of Science and Technology said on Wednesday.

Developed by ImmunoACT, a gene therapy company incubated at IIT Bombay, NexCAR19 is a prescription therapy for relapsed or refractory B-cell Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, where frontline or standard treatments have failed. The therapy uses a lentiviral vector for gene modification.

“NexCAR19, India’s first living drug, has made gene therapies both affordable and accessible without compromising scientific rigour or patient safety,” the Ministry said.

Supported by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), NexCAR19 was among three groundbreaking innovations unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the ongoing ESTIC2025 Conclave in New Delhi. The others include QSIP, India’s first quantum security chip, and a 25-qubit quantum computing processor — both marking India’s leap in frontier technologies.

CAR-T therapy, globally regarded as a breakthrough in cancer treatment, involves reprogramming a patient’s T-cells to target and destroy cancer cells. Clinical trials worldwide have shown remarkable success in end-stage cancer patients, especially those battling Acute Lymphocytic Leukaemia.

To scale up production and enhance affordability, the DBT has funded ImmunoACT under its Biomanufacturing initiative (BioE3 Policy) to establish a 200-litre GMP-grade lentiviral vector and plasmid manufacturing platform. This facility, equipped with advanced bioreactor technology, is expected to support gene therapy treatment for up to 1,000 patients annually.

Amid rising cancer incidences in India, the DBT is also advancing research to develop next-generation CAR-T therapeutics for both liquid and solid tumours, including Multiple Myeloma, Glioblastoma, and Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, while addressing associated toxicities.

The Ministry said these efforts represent India’s commitment to self-reliant healthcare innovation, paving the way for cutting-edge, affordable cancer treatments developed entirely on home soil.