Thane: In what can be termed as a milestone for India, cutting-edge technology and innovative cancer treatment is now available in India at a fraction of the international costs. Ms. Mahima Chaudhry (actor & cancer survivor) has inaugurated SUNACT Cancer Institute – India’s first ever chain of super-specialized cancer clinic equipped with GMP Modular Unit (led by renowned medical oncologist and Professor Dr. Vijay Patil and fellow oncologist Dr. Ashay Karpe), on 4th floor of Tieten Medicity Hospital building, Thane (Mumbai Metropolitan Region), on 20th July, 2024.
SUNACT Cancer Institute is committed to advancing cancer treatment in India through innovative research, cutting-edge technologies, revolutionary therapies, and personalized patient care, as stated by Dr. Vijay Patil. Besides offering CAR-T (allogeneic), SUNACT will also offer CAR-T (autologous), Stem Cell / Bone Marrow Transplant, Gamma Delta T-Cells, Gene Therapy (CRISPR, and Gene Editing), Immunotherapy, advanced / intensive chemotherapy, etc.
This clinic at Thane is the first and the only one in the country right now to offer the latest allogeneic CAR-T Cell Therapy – a revolutionary new technology creating waves around the world in Cancer treatment. It involves donor cells, can be administered as a last line of treatment for solid-state tumors (which encompass close to 99% of the cancer cases detected), and cuts down treatment time by up to six weeks from the now prevalent autologous CAR-T Cell Therapy which is mostly effective only for blood cancers (liquid state tumors), which form just 1% of all cancer cases.
The inauguration featured a ribbon-cutting and lighting of the ceremonial lamp by the Chief Guest Ms. Mahima Chaudhry, actor and cancer survivor. It was followed by a guided tour of the facility, where the Bollywood star interacted with cancer patients and medical staff.
While addressing the gathering, Ms. Mahima Chaudhry said “It is astonishing to see the advancement in Cancer treatment today, and it is so heartening to know that many lives can now be saved from this dreaded disease. I am grateful to the good doctors for inviting me here today and letting me do my bit for this great cause. I feel it is nothing compared to the divine and selfless service that these doctors provide us. I also congratulate all the faculty, nurses, medical workers and other staff here for the tremendous job they are doing in setting up and running this facility – the first of its kind in India. Together we will all win the battle against Cancer!”
Dr. Vijay Patil, founder SUNACT, leading medical oncologist, professor & author, followed up on this sentiment and expressed his thoughts by saying, “The goal remains to eradicate this disease from the face of the earth and SUNACT is only a small initiative from India in that grand global mission. It gives us great happiness and pride to share that we have successfully been able to complete the allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy procedure first time in India, where donor T-cells (modified to target & destroy cancer cells) were infused in a few patients with solid state tumors at almost 1/8th the cost in the western countries. This will save many lives.”
SUNACT Cancer Institute’s ongoing commitment to enhancing accessibility and delivery of innovative and cutting-edge cancer treatments will soon result in more such super-specialized Cancer clinics / centres coming up in various locations across India over the next few years, such as Khar / Bandra (Mumbai), Delhi/NCR, Bangalore, Pune, Kolkata, Chennai, and so on.
In the ongoing battle against cancer, CAR-T cell therapy has emerged as a groundbreaking treatment option, offering new hope to patients facing late-stage / advanced and difficult-to-treat malignancies.
SUNACT has also formalised collaborations with international labs and acquired exclusive rights to offer these new treatments and therapies in India, and also in the Middle-East, Africa, South Asia, and other underserved markets at reasonable costs.