During the 5th Annual Meeting of the Indian Society of Blood & Bone Marrow Transplantation (ISBMT 2024) in Bengaluru, Immuneel Therapeutics Pvt. Ltd. unveiled Phase 2 clinical trial findings for Varnimcabtagene autoleucel (CD19 CAR-T, Var-cel). Var-cel, the sole global CAR-T cell therapy studied in India under the IMAGINE initiative, targeted adult and pediatric blood cancers.
Dr. Sunil Bhat, Co-Principal Investigator of IMAGINE and Vice Chairman of Oncology Services, as well as Director & Clinical Lead of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Blood & Bone Marrow Transplantation, presented IMAGINE’s data. The results demonstrated remarkable safety and clinical efficacy, with an Overall Response Rate of 83% at Day90 post infusion in both relapsed/refractory leukemia & lymphoma patient cohorts. Additionally, the 5-year follow-up data showcased Var-cel’s efficacy in comparison to globally approved CD19 CAR-T cell therapies.
Dr. Sharat Damodar, Chairman of Oncology Services, Clinical Director at MSMC, Senior Consultant & Head of Adult Hematology and BMT, and Principal Investigator of the IMAGINE study, contributed to a panel discussion on the roadmap for CAR T programs in India during ISBMT 2024.
ISBMT serves as India’s premier hematology specialty congress, attracting oncologists, scientists, allied specialists, ancillary service providers, advocacy groups, and policymakers. With a focus on advancing patient care in blood diseases, ISBMT 2024 brought together over 200 key hemato-oncologists nationwide, showcasing the latest advancements in science, innovation, and technology.