CAR T-Cell Therapy in India: Hospitals, Cost & Process

CAR T-cell therapy in India is one of the most exciting new ways the medical sector is approaching cancer treatment. A decade ago, immunotherapy was just a far-fetched dream that scientists would talk about in their research. Here we are now, looking at the phenomenal success rates of this treatment!

If you are familiar with immunology and the various advances in the field, this must feel like a revision, right? Don’t worry if you’re learning about this treatment just now; we’ll help simplify the procedure and help you improve your health literacy without a medical dictionary!

So, let’s explore how exactly this therapy empowers a patient’s cells to fight cancer!

Key Facts about CAR-T Therapy

• Cost in India: $150k-250k (vs. $500K in the US)

• Success Rate: 70-80% for blood cancers that came back.

• Top Hospitals for cancer treatment in India Apollo Hospitals, 

• Visa Support: Yapita Health assists with travel - from visa to bookings.

• CAR T cell therapy vs Chemotherapy which one is better? Depends on your condition.

CAR T-Cell Therapy in India - How is It Changing Cancer Care?

This therapy uses chimeric (mixture of) antigen receptors as its main weapon to fight against cancer cells. This is a modification done on the T cells. A type of white blood cell that plays an important role in the immune system.

CAR-T cell therapy in India includes advanced techniques such as NexCAR19 which is an indigenously developed approach. This has reduced the cost of this therapy in India when compared to international costs.

In collaboration with the Tata Memorial Centre, NexCAR19 has shown successful results in clinical trials and is used at major hospitals such as Fortis Healthcare. In addition, India has a single approved CAR T cell company - the ImmunoACT- which is making therapy accessible for all.

The therapy is mainly used for conditions like B-ALL, B-NHL amongst others.

Hospitals in India offering CAR T cell therapy mainly include names like:

• Tata Memorial Centre (TMC), Mumbai

• Apollo Cancer Centres

• Fortis Healthcare, Delhi

• Malabar Cancer Centre (MCC), Kerala

• Max Healthcare, Gurgaon

The primary benefits of getting this therapy in India are related to the pricing in comparison to Western countries like the US and accessibility. People abroad usually face these two barriers which is solved by India.

India provides access to successful cancer treatment, with advancements like NexCAR19 therapy, this makes it a top contender for this treatment in India.

Hospitals & Doctors in India Providing CAR T Cell Therapy

Tata Memorial Centre (TMC), Mumbai

Tata Memorial Centre in Mumbai is one of the top hospitals for cancer treatment with advanced techniques, TMC was at the forefront of NexCAR19 development. It offers CAR T cell therapy at minimal prices depending on the patient’s category as per the hospital policy.

A well-equipped facility and the highly skilled doctors here ensure CAR T therapy is successful and affordable. You can find doctors like Dr. Gaurav Narula and Dr. Hasmukh Jain who have been an integral part of indigenous CAR T-cell therapy development.

Apollo Cancer Centres

Part of one of the most trusted names for medical care in India, Apollo Cancer Centres (pan India) has multiple doctors who specialize in CAR T-cell therapy. With its Navi Mumbai facility offering NexCAR19 therapy.

You can find Dr. Punit Jain and Dr. Vipin Khandelwal at the Navi Mumbai facility. Dr. Revathi Raj looks over CAR T therapy at the Chennai facility and Dr. PK Jayachandran at Apollo Specialty Hospitals, Chennai.

Fortis Healthcare, Delhi

Fortis Healthcare is a prominent facility that provides advanced cancer care at Gurgaon and Delhi. Fortis Healthcare has experts like Dr. Rahul Bhargava who specialize in CAR T therapy with advanced equipment to support the success.

Malabar Cancer Centre (MCC), Kerala

Malabar Cancer Centre in Kerala is one of the top facilities for advanced cancer care, with CAR T-cell therapy as the prominent treatment. The facility provides this treatment at affordable costs (₹30 lakh or $33,792).

You can find Dr. Chandran K. Nair providing CAR T cell therapy here, with his skilled team of doctors and surgeons.

Max Healthcare, Gurgaon

Max Healthcare another one of the leading hospitals in Gurgaon, this faciity has expert doctors using cutting-edge technology that brings successful results. You can find Dr. Rayaz Ahmed leading the cancer care and advanced treatment services here.

These were the list of leading Indian hospitals that provide CAR T-cell therapy with prominent doctors who you can consult for a second opinion with us.

How Does It Work?

CAR, or Chimeric Antigen Receptor, recognizes the cancer cells present in the body by piggybacking the T cells. Cancer cells express certain special proteins on their surface known as antigen - this helps the T cells (normal and the modified one) recognize and kill it.

Here’s how the process unfolds:

• Step 1: The patient’s blood is collected and taken back to the lab to extract the T cells. Alternatively, a process called leukapheresis helps instantly extract the T cell (from the WBC.) During this step, the patient either lies in bed or sits in a reclining chair while two IV (intravenous) lines help complete the process. This step continues for 2-3 hours.

• Step 2: After the T cells are separated out from the WBC, they are sent to a lab and altered by adding the gene for the specific chimeric antigen receptor. And we have the CAR T cell. These cells are grown and multiplied in the lab until there are hundreds of millions of such cells. This is the final product, which will be infused back into the patient’s body.

• Step 3: The "armed" T cells (CAR T cells) are sent back into the patient’s body with the help of IV infusion, which is similar to blood transfusion. Once inside the body, these cells will continue to grow and kill the cancer cells.

The entire process from collection to re-introduction takes nearly three to five weeks.

But wait, how do scientists know which CAR gene to add in the patient’s T cells? A common question we get asked. Every foreign object for the immune system will contain a protein on its surface that’s not present in the body - the antigen. Cancer cells also express these antigens.

The CAR gene that doctors add to the T cells is decided depending on the type of cancer. Cancer cells are analyzed by doctors and researchers to identify the antigens specific to the patient’s cancer.

This is what helps the immune cells recognize these foreign cells and destroy them.

Similarly, cancer cells have these special proteins that are unique to each cancer type (for example, breast cancer will have its own antigen present on the cancer cells than blood cancers.)

Applications of CAR T Cell in India

This therapy is recommended for certain blood cancers in children, young adults and a few types of lymphoma or myeloma in adults. Only after other treatments have failed. Here’s a look:

• B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, or ALL in both adult and pediatric patients

• Certain types of lymphoma, such as DLBCL, primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma, large B-cell lymphoma transformed into follicular lymphoma,

• Multiple myeloma

• Relapsed or refractory cases, where the patient has become resistant to other treatments.  

The treatment is considered an option only after the patient hasn’t responded to the blood cancer treatments, relapsed, and has adequate organ function.

CAR-T Cell Therapy Cost

Due to its complex manufacturing, specialized infrastructure, and higher success rates than most novel immunotherapy or radiation therapy options, the cost fluctuates. Globally, the cost of this therapy can range anywhere from $400,000 to $1 million per patient. In India, however, the CAR T cell therapy Cost in India is around $68,000.

The cost can vary depending on several factors, a few of which are:

• Chosen country for the procedure - cost of CAR-T cell therapy in India much lower

• Type of cancer and whether it's approved for the treatment 

• Health insurance plan, particularly if it covers it at all.

Recent advances in CAR T cell therapy show promise of this therapy working for other cancers such as ovarian/pancreatic cancers. Additionally, there may be lower-cost CAR-T available (ImmunoACT, an Indian biosimilar), which may further reduce the price by 40%.

CAR T Cell Therapy vs. Chemotherapy

Now that you know how CAR-T cell therapy works, let's compare it with one of the most traditional forms of cancer treatment. Blood cancer treatment has seen the use of chemotherapy in the past, but the trends are changing in it. 

Here are a few differences between CAR-T cell therapy and chemotherapy:

Which one is right for you? 

Choose CAR-T if:

• You have relapsed blood cancer

• Previous radiation or chemotherapy failed

• You have access to clinical trials and specialized hospitals

Choose Chemotherapy if:

• You have early-stage solid tumors (breast, lung)

• Cost barrier exists (CAR-T cell therapy is more expensive than chemotherapy)

• Traditional treatments have worked well for you in the past.

CAR T Cell Therapy with Yapita Health

Now that you know all about the treatment and have an idea about its cost, too, the next step is consulting a specialist. If you have trouble connecting with a specialist, you can simply reach out to us through any one of the channels visible to you.

Want to know if CAR-T is right for you? Get a consultation with the top CAR-T specialists and oncologists today.

Our network of oncologists from world-class medical providers such as Turkey, India, Thailand, and the US can help you make the decision.