Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi gifted the Nation three pioneering innovations during the ongoing Emerging Science, Technology & Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025 — marking a historic leap for Indian science and technology. The innovations include QSIP, India’s first quantum security chip; a 25-qubit QPU, the nation’s first quantum computing chip paving the way for the future of computation; and CAR-T Cell Therapy, India’s first indigenous cancer cell therapy developed by Indian innovators.
Among these, NexCAR19, developed by ImmunoACT, stands out as the world’s first humanised CAR-T therapy “Made in India, for the World.” The innovation received strong support from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC).
Revolutionising Cancer Care with NexCAR19
As reported by pib.gov.in, the Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy represents a major milestone in cancer treatment. Globally, clinical trials have demonstrated remarkable success in end-stage cancer patients, particularly those suffering from Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL). NexCAR19, India’s first “living drug,” has transformed the landscape of gene therapy by making advanced treatments affordable, accessible, and safe, without compromising on scientific integrity or patient care.
Empowering Innovation: The Role of DBT, BIRAC, and IIT Bombay
ImmunoACT, an IIT Bombay spin-off, emerged from India’s strong innovation ecosystem. Supported under the BioNest initiative of BIRAC, the start-up benefited from extensive funding, mentorship, and infrastructure while being incubated at the Society of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SINE) — a premier technology business incubator at IIT Bombay.
In 2021, the TMC-IIT Bombay team received partial support from DBT and BIRAC through the National Biopharma Mission to manufacture lentiviruses and conduct India’s first CAR-T clinical trial at ACTREC, Tata Memorial Centre. The ongoing NexCAR19 pediatric trial at Tata Memorial Centre, with ImmunoACT as the manufacturing partner, represents a defining step in India’s journey toward clinical-grade, indigenous CAR-T therapy.
Scaling Up Manufacturing for Accessibility and Affordability
Recently, DBT, through the Biomanufacturing Initiative under the BioE3 Policy, extended support to ImmunoACT to establish a 200L GMP lentiviral vector and plasmid production platform. This advanced facility aims to scale up production and reduce therapy costs, ensuring wider accessibility.
The platform will integrate state-of-the-art bioreactor technologies to enable high-density cell growth, continuous production, and greater yield efficiency. With this capability, India can now produce GMP-grade gene delivery vectors sufficient to treat up to 1,000 patients annually, advancing both cell and gene therapy capacity.
Expanding the Horizon of CAR-T Research
Beyond supporting NexCAR19, DBT continues to promote translational research at both early and late stages. The goal is to develop new, indigenous CAR-T therapies targeting a broader range of cancers. This includes both liquid and solid tumors, as well as strategies to mitigate associated toxicities.
The ongoing research spans Multiple Myeloma (MM) and Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia. It also covers refractory or relapsed B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Glioblastoma, among others. By fostering interdisciplinary collaborations, DBT aims to boost India’s leadership in next-generation immunotherapies. These advances offer hope to cancer patients worldwide.
A Quantum Leap for Indian Science
The unveiling of NexCAR19, along with quantum computing and security breakthroughs, marks a major milestone. It highlights India’s rise as a global leader in deep science innovation. Under the vision of Prime Minister Modi, India is rapidly building a self-reliant and future-ready scientific ecosystem. This ecosystem blends innovation, affordability, and accessibility to create a healthier and technologically advanced nation.