Bengaluru achieves landmark in cancer cell therapy
Narayana Health in Bengaluru has pulled off something big—two patients with tough-to-treat lymphoma are now three years into successful follow-up after receiving CAR T-cell therapy.
That's one of the longest documented survivals for this treatment in South India, showing real hope for people who've run out of other options.
What is CAR T-cell therapy?
Think of it as next-level immunotherapy: doctors reprogram a patient's own T-cells to hunt down and destroy cancer cells.
It's been a game-changer for blood cancers that don't respond to regular treatments.
Narayana Health's success proves this isn't just hype—it can actually give advanced cancer patients a fighting chance.
Homegrown therapies are now available in India
India now has its own versions—NexCAR19 and Qartemi—developed by homegrown teams like IIT Bombay, Tata Memorial Hospital, and Immuneel Therapeutics.
They cost less than imported options (₹35-50 lakh), making them way more accessible for Indian patients.
Changing the narrative for cancer care in India
With these therapies available locally, patients no longer have to travel abroad or face impossible costs.
Stories like Narayana Health's show that cutting-edge treatments can be both effective and within reach, changing what's possible for advanced cancer care in India.