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Defeating Cancer Together: Immuneel’s CAR T-Cell Therapy Breakthrough in India

NextEdge Admin

25 Mar 2024

3 min 42 sec

A twenty-two-year-old patient’s love for the wind on his face as he runs was abruptly halted when he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) a year ago. However, a novel therapy at a government hospital has brought him back to life, making him the first clinical trial patient in India to receive CAR T-cell therapy for ALL.

Reflecting on his decision to participate in the trial, the patient recalls the desperation he felt as chemotherapy failed to improve his condition. “I had lost 30 kg, my hair, and my energy. The days of the trial were tense, but my doctors were supportive,” he recounts.

The therapy, developed by Immuneel, genetically reprograms a patient’s immune system to target and destroy cancer cells. Prof Pankaj Malhotra of PGIMER explains that the patient is now cancer-free and off therapy, back to his college routine with just regular follow-ups advised.

The innovative therapy modifies T-cells using an inactivated HIV virus to empower them to fight cancer. Dr. Sidharth Mukherjee, co-founder of Immuneel, emphasized the safety of the modified virus during the launch of the trials.

The patient’s battle with cancer began with persistent fever and weakness, leading to his diagnosis in Saharanpur. Despite being a fitness enthusiast, he found himself facing the harsh reality of blood cancer. His journey at PGIMER involved chemotherapy, but when conventional treatment failed, he became a candidate for the CAR T-cell therapy trial.

Dr. Charanpreet Singh highlights the patient’s positive response to the therapy, evident in clean PET scan results and subsequent reviews. The patient expresses his joy at being given a new lease of life, though he remains mindful of the potential risks associated with the therapy.

The doctors at PGIMER are closely monitoring the patient and other trial participants to ensure continued success, which is crucial for the therapy’s approval. Once approved, the hospital aims to offer the therapy at a fraction of the cost charged abroad, making it more accessible to patients like the patient.

As for the patient, he has regained his original weight, hair, and zest for life. Determined to reclaim the year he lost to treatment, he plans to complete his graduation and pursue a career in finance, feeling like himself once more.