DST Backs Indo-Singapore CAR-T Therapy Project For Blood Cancer Treatment

In a significant step towards strengthening India’s advanced biotechnology and cancer therapy ecosystem, the Technology Development Board (TDB), under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), has extended support to Hyderabad-based Helix Cell Therapeutics for the development of an advanced CAR-T cell therapy for multiple myeloma (MM).

MM is an aggressive blood cancer that often becomes resistant to existing treatments.

The project is being implemented under an Indo-Singapore collaborative framework in partnership with Biocell Innovations and aims to develop a next-generation dual-targeting CAR-T therapy designed to improve treatment outcomes in patients with relapsed or treatment-resistant disease.

According to officials, the project titled “Generation of Novel Dual Targeting Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells to Treat Multiple Myeloma and Conducting Phase I Clinical Trial” will involve the development, manufacturing, and early clinical evaluation of the therapy in India.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a cancer of plasma cells in the bone marrow and remains largely incurable despite major advances in oncology. Patients often undergo repeated cycles of chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and stem-cell transplantation, but many eventually relapse and develop resistance to treatment.

According to the scientists at the TDB, CAR-T cell therapy has emerged as one of the most promising developments in cancer immunotherapy in recent years.

The treatment involves collecting a patient’s own immune T-cells, genetically modifying them in the laboratory to identify cancer cells, and then reinfusing them into the patient so the immune system can attack the tumour more effectively.

Currently available CAR-T therapies for multiple myeloma mainly target a marker known as BCMA. While these therapies have shown encouraging results globally, relapse remains a challenge in many patients.

The new therapy being developed through the Indo-Singapore collaboration seeks to simultaneously target both BCMA and CD19 markers present on cancer cells. Researchers believe the dual-targeting strategy may improve the durability of remission and reduce the likelihood of tumour escape mechanisms that contribute to disease recurrence.

The DST officials said the project reflects India’s growing focus on advanced biologics, precision medicine, and next-generation healthcare technologies under the broader framework of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

Speaking on the occasion, Rajesh Kumar Pathak, Secretary, TDB, said advanced cell and gene therapies represented the future of precision healthcare.

“Advanced cell and gene therapies represent the future of precision healthcare and hold transformative potential for treating complex and previously incurable diseases. Through this Indo-Singaporean collaborative project, TDB is supporting indigenous innovation in advanced immunotherapy platforms that can strengthen India’s global position in next-generation biotechnology and affordable healthcare solutions,” he said.

A representative from Helix Cell Therapeutics said the support from TDB would help accelerate clinical translation and eventual commercialisation of the company’s CAR-T therapy platform.

The company stated that the project could expand access to advanced cancer treatment solutions in India, where imported cell and gene therapies often remain financially inaccessible for most patients.

The scientists said indigenous development of CAR-T therapies is particularly important for countries like India because currently available international therapies can cost several crores of rupees per patient, making affordability a major barrier.

India has recently witnessed growing momentum in advanced cancer immunotherapy research, including the development of indigenous CAR-T platforms by academic institutions and biotechnology companies.

Researchers believe collaborations involving government agencies, industry, and international partners could help strengthen India’s position in high-end biomedical innovation.