In a significant breakthrough for cancer treatment in Eastern India, Apollo Multispeciality Hospitals in Kolkata has successfully administered CAR-T cell therapy to a 31-year-old engineer with high-risk Pre-B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). This marks the hospital’s first use of this cutting-edge therapy on an adult leukemia patient, offering new hope for a long-term solution after traditional methods like chemotherapy proved ineffective.
The patient, who had undergone multiple rounds of chemotherapy, was given a pre-treatment with Fludarabine and Cyclophosphamide before receiving the CAR-T infusion on June 18, 2025. The procedure was smooth, with only minor side effects, and the patient’s recovery has been stable, showing no signs of neurotoxicity. This indicates the therapy’s effectiveness and marks a milestone for Apollo Kolkata and the Indian healthcare landscape.
The CAR-T product used, NexCAR19, is manufactured in India, highlighting the country’s growing capacity for developing world-class medical treatments. The successful treatment was led by senior consultants Dr. Soumya Bhattacharya and Dr. Rajat Bhattacharyya, who emphasized the importance of this achievement in offering new lifelines to patients with treatment-resistant conditions.
Dr. Soumya Bhattacharya noted that this breakthrough provides new hope for patients who have exhausted traditional treatment options. Dr. Rajat Bhattacharyya highlighted the significance of using a domestically developed product like NexCAR19, which demonstrates India’s growing healthcare capabilities.
This successful treatment contributes to the growing evidence that CAR-T therapy is a viable option in Indian settings, paving the way for wider accessibility to this revolutionary cancer treatment. The use of CAR-T cell therapy in Eastern India marks a significant advancement in cancer treatment, offering new possibilities for patients with limited treatment options. With the success of this treatment, Apollo Multispeciality Hospitals has set a new standard for cancer care in the region, and this breakthrough is expected to have a positive impact on the lives of many patients in the future.