How Immune Cell and Gene Therapies are Transforming Treatment in India.

Immune cell and gene therapies are redefining treatment for cancer, genetic disorders, and autoimmune diseases in India. Once considered the realm of science fiction, these living medicines are now at the forefront of clinical care, offering hope for previously untreatable or poorly managed conditions.

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Immuno-gene therapies represent a transformative frontier, combining genetic engineering with the body's natural defenses to treat complex diseases like cancer and genetic disorders. Immuno-cell therapy boosts immune response by collecting, activating, and expanding a patient's own immune cells outside the body, then reinfusing them to better target abnormal cells.

CAR-T cell therapy, one of the most advanced forms, modifies T cells with Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CAR) to identify and destroy cancer cells. In India, this segment is projected to grow from $710.9 million in 2024 to $2.5 billion by 2033, at a 15.1 per cent CAGR. CAR-NK therapy, another form, uses modified Natural Killer (NK) cells - either autologous or donor-derived - to target tumors, potentially offering safer and more effective outcomes.

In parallel, Gene Therapy modifies or replaces defective genes to treat cancer, inherited disorders, and chronic conditions. It includes Somatic gene therapy, which targets non-reproductive cells and affects only the treated person, and can be delivered ex-vivo (outside the body, then reinfused) or in-vivo (directly inside the body). Germline gene therapy alters reproductive cells or embryos, resulting in heritable genetic changes.

Immune cell and gene therapies increasingly intersect, with engineered immune cells like in CAR-T therapy offering better disease targeting and response durability. This convergence is advancing personalized medicine and unlocking new options for conditions once deemed untreatable.

Competitive Landscape in India

India's cell and gene therapy ecosystem is expanding, with both established players and emerging innovators:

India's first homegrown CAR-T therapy, developed by IIT Bombay and Tata Memorial Hospital, was approved in October 2023, marking a major milestone.

Strategic Partnerships and Collaborations