On 5 October 2026, Command Hospital (Eastern Command) in Kolkata administered India’s indigenous CAR-T cell therapy, NexCAR19, to a 39-year-old serving soldier with relapsed/refractory B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (B-cell ALL). Command Hospitals across India are among the institutions authorised to administer this therapy.
CAR-T Cell Therapy
Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, or CAR-T therapy, is a form of immunotherapy in which a patient’s T cells are modified to recognise and attack cancer cells. T cells are a type of white blood cell involved in the body’s immune response. In CAR-T treatment, T cells are collected, genetically modified to produce a chimeric antigen receptor, multiplied and infused back into the patient. NexCAR19 targets CD19, a protein found on the surface of many B cells, including certain cancerous B cells. B-cell ALL is a cancer involving immature B lymphocytes. “Relapsed” describes a cancer that returns after treatment, while “refractory” describes a cancer that does not respond adequately to treatment.
NexCAR19: Development and Features
NexCAR19 is India’s first indigenous CAR-T cell therapy. Its development involved IIT Bombay, the Tata Memorial Centre and biotechnology start-up ImmunoACT. It was developed as an immunotherapy option for blood cancers, including leukaemia and lymphoma. NexCAR19 has a humanised product configuration. CAR-T products using murine, or mouse-derived, components can produce immune reactions against the treatment; humanised components are associated with a lower risk of severe neurological side effects compared with murine components. The estimated cost of NexCAR19 is about one-tenth the price of similar therapies in Western countries.
Use in Military Hospitals
The Kolkata administration followed a similar treatment at Command Hospital (Western Command) in Chandimandir in September 2026. The patient treated there was a 16-year-old with the same condition. Both administrations involved patients with B-cell ALL and took place at Command Hospitals.
Important Facts for Exams
- CAR-T therapy uses a patient’s own T cells, which are modified to recognise cancer cells.
- CD19 is a target antigen found on many B cells.
- Leukaemia is a cancer of blood-forming tissues, including bone marrow.
- NexCAR19 was developed through collaboration involving IIT Bombay, the Tata Memorial Centre and ImmunoACT.
Command Hospital (Eastern Command) is located in Kolkata, while Command Hospital (Western Command) is in Chandimandir. Command Hospitals are authorised institutions for administering CAR-T cell therapy.
