According to a reporter in New Delhi, on April 4, India launched its first indigenous CAR-T cell therapy for cancer treatment, claiming this is a “major breakthrough” that brings “new hope for humanity” in the battle against this deadly disease.
NexCAR19 was launched at a price approximately 1/10 of the current price outside India. (Illustrative image).
Speaking at the announcement event for NexCAR19 therapy at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay in Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra state, President Droupadi Murmu emphasized that the development of this therapy is an example of the “Make in India” initiative, reflecting the capabilities of Indian scientists and doctors. Additionally, the President stated that this therapy is considered one of the extraordinary advancements in medical science, not only being accessible and affordable but also bringing new hope to all of humanity.
Developed by IIT Bombay and the Tata Memorial Center, this gene-based therapy is expected to help cure various cancers while significantly reducing treatment costs.
Mr. Sudeep Gupta, Director of the Tata Memorial Center, mentioned that CAR-T cell therapy is an extremely expensive treatment that is out of reach for most people. However, NexCAR19 was launched at a price approximately 1/10 of the current price outside India. The Director of IIT Bombay, Professor Subhasis Chaudhuri, noted that the cost of similar cancer treatment abroad is around $480,000.
According to Mr. Gupta, the creation and deployment of NexCAR19 represent a historic milestone in the field of cancer treatment and genetic engineering.
