Sahyadri Hospitals and ImmunoACT Collaboration

Pune: Sahyadri Hospitals, one of Maharashtra's largest hospital chains, proudly announces a ground-breaking commercial collaboration with ImmunoACT to introduce CAR-T cell therapies in Pune.

As one of the prominent healthcare facilities, Sahyadri Hospitals, equipped with comprehensive haematology treatment centers, is set to provide access to NexCAR19™ (Actalycabtagene autoleucel). This CAR-T cell therapy is designed to treat relapsed or refractory B-cell lymphoma and B-acute lymphoblastic leukaemia patients aged 15 and above.

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"The introduction of CAR-T cell therapy marks a significant leap in our commitment to providing cutting-edge care for cancer patients. This innovative approach reflects our continuous endeavour to push the boundaries of cancer treatment, offering patients the most advanced therapeutic options available," states Mr. Abrarali Dalal, Director & CEO of Sahyadri Hospitals.

"The integration of CAR-T cell therapy sets a new benchmark in treating complex blood cancers, aligning with our mission to offer the highest standard of precision medicine. This launch places Sahyadri Hospitals at the frontline of innovative treatments for blood disorders, promising to significantly improve the lives of patients in Pune and Maharashtra."

Commonly known as "living drugs," these personalized therapies are manufactured by genetically modifying a patient's own T-cells using a viral vector, specifically targeting certain types of cancer cells. NexCAR19, the first CAR-T therapy fully developed and manufactured in India, is now among approximately ten such therapies available commercially worldwide. While similar therapies can cost several hundred thousand dollars in the United States, it is planned to be offered at almost one-tenth of this cost.

Outcomes in B-cell cancers, where one or more lines of treatment have failed, are generally dismal. Sahyadri's medical and haemato-oncologists intend to deploy NexCAR19 to enhance the standard of care, which currently includes:

• Chemotherapy
• Monoclonal antibodies
• Bone marrow transplant

NexCAR19 will be initially available at Sahyadri's Deccan Gymkhana center in Pune, serving patients across western India and beyond.

Dr Shashikant Apte, M.D., FRCPA, Head of the Department of Haematology & Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at Sahyadri Hospitals, stated, "At Sahyadri Hospitals, we treat patients from various backgrounds, conducting approximately 45-50 bone marrow transplants annually. With the availability of NexCAR19, we now have a significant opportunity to improve outcomes and the quality of life for patients with B-cell malignancies. We hope that similar cell therapies will soon be accessible for other forms of haematological cancers, addressing a critically unmet need."

Shirish Arya, Co-Founder and Director of Business Development & Corporate Strategy at ImmunoACT, commented, "Sahyadri Hospitals' cutting-edge infrastructure and their clinically forward-thinking oncologists will receive our full support to ensure the immediate and affordable availability of NexCAR19 to patients. Our efforts at ImmunoACT, driven by innovation in research, are also focused on enhancing the scalability of our robust CAR-T platform to extend the benefits of this life-saving therapy to as many patients as possible."

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