CMC Vellore Achieves Breakthrough in Affordable, In-Hospital CAR-T Cell Cancer Therapy

In a major advancement for cancer treatment in India, a clinical trial led by CMC Vellore and funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has successfully demonstrated that Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy can be safely manufactured and administered within a hospital setting at significantly reduced cost.

This marks the first time CAR-T cells—engineered from a patient’s own immune T cells to target and destroy cancer cells—have been produced and infused on-site at a hospital in India. Traditionally, CAR-T cell therapy is developed by large commercial manufacturers, resulting in high costs, logistical challenges, and limited accessibility. The decentralized, point-of-care (PoC) manufacturing model adopted in this trial overcomes these barriers.

Dr. Vikram Mathews, director of CMC Vellore and lead author of the study, explained that CAR-T cells are genetically modified to express receptors that recognize cancer-specific antigens. This enables the patient’s immune system to directly attack cancer cells, offering hope to patients who have not responded to conventional treatments.

The VELCART trial treated 10 patients aged 6 to 59 years, including six with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and four with large B-cell lymphoma. All patients had exhausted standard treatment options. The therapy achieved remarkable results—100% remission in leukemia patients and 50% remission in lymphoma patients. At a median follow-up of 15 months, eight of the ten patients remained cancer-free.

The CAR-T cells were produced at CMC Vellore in just nine days, using fresh, non-frozen cells—another factor contributing to the positive outcomes. Importantly, the therapy was well-tolerated with minimal side effects.

Published in Molecular Therapy, the study reported a cost reduction of nearly 90% compared to global averages, making it a potentially transformative model for cancer care in low- and middle-income countries. Dr. Mathews emphasized that this PoC approach is not only feasible but also scalable across other tertiary healthcare facilities in India.

“This trial redefines how cancer therapy can be delivered—affordably, effectively, and close to home. It positions India as a leader in next-generation, in-house biotherapies,” he concluded.