Cellogen Therapeutics, a biotech startup founded by Dr Gaurav Kharya and Dr Tanveer Ahmad, is developing third-generation bispecific CAR-T cell therapy to treat blood cancers and disorders. The company aims to make advanced cancer treatments, which can cost up to $500,000, more affordable and accessible in India. The startup’s platform targets two antigens, CD19 and CD20, to reduce relapse rates in blood cancer patients, a persistent challenge in oncology, according to inc42.com.
Dr Kharya, a pediatric blood cancer specialist trained in the UK, returned to India in 2014 frustrated by the lack of advanced therapies available locally. His collaboration with researcher Dr Ahmad led to Cellogen’s founding. Their CAR-T therapy involves extracting a patient’s immune cells, engineering them in the lab to recognize cancer cells via two markers, and reinfusing them to attack tumors. This dual-targeting approach differs from earlier CAR-T therapies that focus on a single antigen, potentially improving treatment efficacy and reducing relapse, inc42.com reports.
Cellogen’s work addresses a critical gap in India’s oncology landscape, where high costs and limited access to personalized therapies hinder outcomes. Globally, CAR-T therapies have transformed blood cancer treatment but remain prohibitively expensive. By focusing on bispecific targeting and cost reduction, Cellogen aligns with efforts by other biotech firms to democratize gene and cell therapies. Their approach could influence how personalized cancer treatments evolve in emerging markets, where affordability is a key barrier, according to inc42.com.
Cellogen continues to advance its bispecific CAR-T platform with the goal of clinical trials and eventual market entry. The startup’s efforts reflect a broader push in India to develop innovative biotech solutions tailored to local needs. Dr Kharya’s vision to bring cutting-edge therapies to Indian patients underscores the growing domestic focus on precision medicine. Cellogen’s progress will be closely watched as it moves toward making personalized cancer care more accessible and affordable.