Indian Doctors Achieve Breakthrough in Blood Cancer

New Delhi : Indian doctors have made a remarkable breakthrough in the treatment of blood cancer by developing a new therapy that can eliminate the disease in just nine days. This pioneering effort was led by doctors at the Christian Medical College (CMC) Vellore in Tamil Nadu, in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The treatment, named VELCART, marks a significant advancement in cancer care as it involves the production and administration of CAR-T cells directly within the hospital for the first time.

CAR-T cell therapy is a revolutionary approach where a patient’s own immune cells are reprogrammed to identify and destroy cancer cells. Unlike traditional treatments, VELCART is cost-effective and can be produced on-site, which drastically reduces the time and expense associated with imported therapies. According to the doctors involved, this innovation has led to a success rate where 80 percent of the treated patients showed no signs of cancer even after 15 months of follow-up.

This development offers hope for thousands of blood cancer patients across India and potentially worldwide, as the therapy is both affordable and effective. The ability to manufacture CAR-T cells within the hospital simplifies the treatment process, making it more accessible to patients who previously had limited options due to the high cost of imported drugs. The doctors are optimistic that VELCART will revolutionize cancer care in India, enabling faster recovery times and improved survival rates.

The Indian government, through ICMR, has lauded this achievement as a major step forward in cancer research and treatment. This breakthrough is expected to encourage further research and development in immunotherapy and personalized medicine. Experts believe that such indigenous innovations will strengthen India’s position in global healthcare and open new avenues for tackling complex diseases like cancer more effectively.

Patients and healthcare professionals alike are hopeful that this advancement will lead to wider availability of advanced cancer treatments at a fraction of the usual cost. With ongoing trials and monitoring, doctors continue to assess the long-term impact of VELCART, aiming to improve its efficacy and expand its application to other forms of cancer in the future.