SUNACT breaks new ground again as first patient in India administered Bi-Specific CAR-T therapy for Multiple Myeloma

Thane: In yet another ground-breaking achievement for advanced cancer treatment in India, an elderly patient diagnosed with ultra-high-risk multiple myeloma (cancer of blood plasma cells), has successfully undergone a pioneering treatment at the SUNACT Cancer Institute, becoming the first patient in India to receive Bi-specific CAR T-cell therapy for this complex and challenging condition. A team of doctors led by acclaimed oncologist Dr. Vijay Patil and including Dr. Bilal Kazi, Dr. Saurabh Bhave and Dr. Ashay Karpe, administered the treatment here at SUNACT’s Thane centre on Monday, December 10, 2024.

“His case was particularly difficult, with his multiple myeloma characterized by high-risk genetic markers, including the deletion of chromosome 17p (del 17p) and the gain of chromosome 1q (gain 1q), which are known to be associated with poor prognosis. Despite multiple lines of therapy, including autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and daratumumab-based treatments, patient relapsed, making his case one of the most challenging in the field of hematologic oncology,” said Dr. Patil after the patient was discharged. “Bi- specific CAR T is a notch ahead of traditional CAR-T and will revolutionise the treatment of multiple myeloma,” he added.

Also, according to Dr. Kazi, “We still have to do a first assessment to ascertain complete success, however Bi-Specific CAR-T is known to provide complete durable remission for up to 27 months over a success rate of 70%. It really is a new dawn in Multiple Myeloma treatment.”

Significantly for a country like India, the therapy at SUNACT is available for under INR 60-70 lakhs which runs into several crores in the world’s most developed countries where it is available.”

A Game-Changer in Cancer Treatment: Bi-Specific CAR T Therapy

Bi-specific CAR T-cell therapy—an advanced and highly specialized form of immunotherapy is according to Dr. Saurabh Bhave, “A leap forward in the treatment of Myeloma.”

Dr. Ashay Karpe feels that, “it heralds a new era in cancer management and provides hope for Relapsed Refractory Multiple Myeloma (RR/MM) patients who have failed multiple lines of treatment. Bi-specific BCMA CAR-T is a new weapon in the fight against myeloma. When you see patients who have lost hope, getting a new lease of life with these cellular therapies, you know that the future of cancer therapy is hopeful. Thank you team SUNACT Cancer Institute for being the torch bearers of the cellular therapy chapter in India- from Research labs to clinics, impossible to possible and despair to hope.”

What sets this treatment apart is its ability to target two key plasma cell antigens—CS1 and BCMA—simultaneously. In contrast to conventional CAR T-cell therapies, which typically target only one antigen, the bi-specific approach is designed to enhance the potency and efficacy of the treatment by addressing multiple targets at once. This dual-targeting strategy significantly improves the chances of eliminating myeloma cells, even in patients with high-risk genetic features like those seen in this particular patient.

The therapy works by genetically modifying a patient’s own T-cells to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) that are capable of recognizing and attacking cancer cells. By targeting both CS1 and BCMA antigens, the therapy increases the likelihood of destroying a wider range of malignant plasma cells, leading to improved outcomes in patients who have relapsed or are resistant to traditional therapies.