PHOTOS BY P.K.ANANTH KUMAR
In a landmark development for cancer care in India, three patients treated with CAR T-cell therapy for relapsed follicular lymphoma at Narayana Health City, Bengaluru, have completed three years of successful follow-up—making this one of the longest documented survivals post-CAR T therapy in South India.
Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR T) therapy, a cutting-edge immunotherapy, has become a beacon of hope for patients with relapsed or treatment-resistant lymphoma. India now produces CAR T therapy domestically, with two CDSCO-approved products—NEXCAR19 and QARTEMI—making this life-saving treatment more accessible and affordable.
Ms. Perumala (name changed), a 66-year-old homemaker, relapsed with aggressive lymphoma in 2022 and underwent CAR T therapy in March 2023. She has since been in complete remission and is now enjoying quality time with her grandchildren.
Among the long-term survivors is Mr. Rehan (name changed), a 43-year-old from Bengaluru who was diagnosed during the COVID-19 pandemic. After exhausting all conventional therapies, he received CAR T therapy in November 2022. Despite multiple setbacks, including a severe COVID-19 infection and swine flu during his Hajj pilgrimage, he is now in remission and in his third year of follow-up.
India witnesses over 1.4 million new cancer cases annually, with lymphomas accounting for a significant burden among haematological malignancies. While conventional treatments help many patients, relapsed or treatment-resistant cases often have poor survival outcomes. The five-year survival rate for such patients can be as low as 20–30%.
The successful outcomes seen with CAR T-cell therapy, particularly with India’s CDSCO-approved versions like NEXCAR19 and QARTEMI which mark a pivotal opportunity to bridge the survival gap in advanced cancer care. If scaled effectively, this therapy could transform India’s cancer treatment landscape, reducing dependence on overseas options and significantly improving long-term survival rates.
“These cases reflect the transformative potential of CAR T therapy for patients who have exhausted all other options. With this therapy now approved by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) and commercially available, Indian patients no longer need to look abroad for advanced treatment,” said Dr. Sharat Damodar, Senior Consultant, Haematologist and Head of Adult BMT at Narayana Health City, Bengaluru and Chairman of the Oncology Collegium at Narayana Health.
The encouraging outcomes observed at Narayana Health City reaffirm the efficacy of CAR T therapy and represent a significant milestone in India’s journey toward advanced cancer care.
