CAR-T cell therapy

The Technology Development Board (TDB) has signed an agreement with Helix Cell Therapeutics Private Limited, Hyderabad, Telangana, for a project aimed at developing an advanced CAR-T cell therapy for the treatment of Multiple Myeloma.

The project is titled “Generation of Novel Dual Targeting Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T Cells to Treat Multiple Myeloma and Conducting Phase I Clinical Trial.”

Focus of the Project

The initiative seeks to develop a dual-targeting CAR-T cell therapy for Multiple Myeloma, a serious and currently incurable form of blood cancer.

Existing CAR-T therapies mainly target the BCMA (B-cell maturation antigen) marker and have shown promising results in patients suffering from relapsed and refractory Multiple Myeloma.

The new therapy aims to improve treatment effectiveness and extend remission duration by simultaneously targeting two markers:

• BCMA
• CD19

These markers are expressed on Multiple Myeloma cells.

What is CAR-T Cell Therapy?

CAR-T (Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell) therapy is an advanced form of immunotherapy in which a patient’s own T lymphocytes are genetically engineered to identify and destroy cancer cells.

The modified T cells are designed to recognise specific proteins present on cancer cells and then attack them more effectively.

Significance of the Dual-Targeting Strategy

The proposed dual-targeting approach represents a major advancement over conventional single-marker CAR-T therapies.

By targeting both BCMA and CD19 simultaneously, the therapy is expected to:

• Improve treatment precision
• Reduce chances of cancer relapse
• Enhance durability of remission
• Provide better outcomes for difficult-to-treat patients

The project will also include a Phase I clinical trial to evaluate the therapy’s safety and effectiveness.

Source: PIB