ICMR-Funded Trial Shows Safe In-Hospital CAR-T Therapy Manufacturing in India

A pioneering trial funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and led by Christian Medical College (CMC) Vellore has demonstrated that CAR-T therapy can be safely manufactured within a hospital setting in India, enabling low-cost treatment for cancer patients.

For the first time in India, CAR-T cells—immune cells genetically engineered to target and destroy cancer—were produced and infused into patients entirely at a hospital, bypassing the need for expensive external manufacturing facilities.

Dr. Vikram Mathews, director of CMC Vellore and principal author of the study, explained that Chimeric Antigen Receptor T cells (CAR-T cells) are a form of immunotherapy where the patient’s own T cells are modified to better recognize and attack cancer cells.

The successful in-hospital production and administration of CAR-T therapy marks a significant advancement for cancer treatment accessibility in India, potentially reducing costs and improving timely care.

This breakthrough paves the way for broader adoption of CAR-T therapy across Indian healthcare facilities, offering hope to many patients battling blood cancers and other malignancies.