Caring Cross, a notable entity in the healthcare sector, recently announced a strategic collaboration with ImmunoAdoptive Cell Therapy (ImmunoACT) aimed at developing and commercializing an autologous CAR T-cell product catering to patients grappling with leukemia and lymphoma.
This collaboration entails Caring Cross furnishing a trivalent TriCAR-T-cell immunotherapy for clinical progression, manufacturing, and eventual commercialization, to be executed at ImmunoACT’s facilities situated in India. The TriCAR-T-cell therapy is meticulously designed to target three antigens typically prevalent in leukemias and lymphomas: CD19, CD20, and CD22. The therapeutic approach, as articulated by Caring Cross, is tailored to offer substantial benefits to leukemia and lymphoma patients subsequent to experiencing relapse following treatment with an anti-CD19 CAR T-cell product.
While the specific financial intricacies of this arrangement remain undisclosed, the partnership underscores a pivotal stride in advancing cell and gene therapies for cancer treatment. ImmunoACT, headquartered in Mumbai, specializes in the development of such therapies, with their flagship candidate, NexCAR19 (actalycabtagene autoleucel), having secured marketing approval from India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSO) the preceding year.
Rahul Purwar, the founder of ImmunoACT, expressed elation regarding this collaboration, emphasizing its potential to facilitate the local production of next-generation CAR T therapies in India, thereby enhancing affordability and accessibility for patients. Boro Dropulić, cofounder and executive director of Caring Cross, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the alignment of this partnership with the organization’s overarching mission of promoting universal access and affordability of CAR T therapies globally. Notably, earlier initiatives such as the collaboration with Brazil’s Fundação Oswaldo Cruz underscore Caring Cross’ commitment to extending low-cost CAR T-cell therapies through national health plans.