Mumbai, India | August 2026: A patient diagnosed with an aggressive form of relapsed central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma is approaching two years of complete remission after receiving CAR-T cell therapy, highlighting the growing role of indigenous advanced cell therapies in India’s cancer treatment landscape.
Rohan (name changed), who was diagnosed with an aggressive double-hit B-cell lymphoma, initially underwent standard R-CHOP chemotherapy and achieved remission. However, within months, the disease relapsed in the cerebellum, presenting a significant therapeutic challenge.
“There was a point where a lot of people had told me there was no treatment left,” Rohan recalls.
Seeking further treatment, he consulted Dr. Kunal Goyal, Head of Hemato-Oncology at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Mumbai. According to Dr. Goyal, the patient’s clinical profile—including bilateral adrenal involvement at diagnosis followed by an early CNS relapse—placed him among the highest-risk lymphoma cases.
“In the pre-CAR-T era, survival outcomes for patients with early CNS relapse were extremely poor. Many patients survived only a few months, and long-term disease control was uncommon,” says Dr. Goyal.
After salvage chemotherapy produced only a temporary response and the disease became resistant, the treating team evaluated CAR-T cell therapy—a personalized form of immunotherapy in which a patient’s own T-cells are genetically modified to identify and destroy cancer cells before being infused back into the body.
Rohan was treated with NexCAR19, India’s first commercially approved indigenous CD19-directed CAR-T cell therapy developed by ImmunoACT. The therapy is also recognized as the world’s first humanized CAR-T therapy.
The treatment process began with leukapheresis in October 2024, during which the patient’s immune cells were collected for manufacturing. While the CAR-T cells were being prepared, bridging therapy was administered to control disease progression. Following the infusion, the patient remained hospitalized for close monitoring for approximately 10 to 12 days.
“To our surprise, he did not experience significant immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) or other major treatment-related toxicities,” says Dr. Goyal.
By Day 28 following infusion, PET-CT and MRI assessments demonstrated a complete response.
The patient was discharged in December 2024 and has continued to remain in complete remission. As he approaches two years without disease recurrence, his case reflects encouraging long-term outcomes associated with CAR-T therapy in selected patients with relapsed or refractory lymphoma.
“I’ve learned a lot from this whole experience,” says Rohan. “I have a very strong mind, and staying positive really helped me through this journey.”
Expanding Access to Advanced Cell Therapy in India
Rohan’s recovery also reflects the broader evolution of advanced cancer care in India. Indigenous CAR-T technology is helping reduce barriers related to manufacturing timelines, accessibility, and treatment costs, making this highly specialized therapy available to a larger number of eligible patients.
According to ImmunoACT, more than 800 patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell malignancies have received NexCAR19 in India. The company also reports that findings from a 250-patient real-world dataset, published in the Blood Cancer Journal (Nature Portfolio), demonstrated efficacy comparable to international benchmarks while maintaining a favourable safety profile.
“Earlier, autologous stem cell transplant was often the last available option for many patients. Today, CAR-T therapy offers the possibility of achieving durable remission and, for some patients, potentially curative outcomes,” adds Dr. Goyal.
About CAR-T Therapy
CAR-T (Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell) therapy is an advanced form of immunotherapy in which a patient’s own T-cells are collected, genetically engineered to recognize specific cancer cells, expanded in a specialized laboratory, and reinfused into the patient to target and destroy malignant cells. The therapy is primarily used in selected patients with relapsed or refractory blood cancers when conventional treatments have failed.
Important Safety Information
CAR-T therapy is associated with serious and potentially life-threatening adverse reactions. These include cytokine release syndrome (CRS), immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), prolonged cytopenias, infections, and other complications that may require intensive monitoring and supportive care. Treatment should only be administered at specialized centers equipped with trained multidisciplinary teams and critical care facilities. Patients should discuss the complete benefit-risk profile with their treating physicians before considering CAR-T therapy.
