From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: CAR-T Cell Therapy, NexCAR19
Mains level: NA
Why in the news?
- President Droupadi Murmu has unveiled ‘NexCAR19’ India’s first indigenously-developed CAR T-cell therapy for cancer treatment.
What is CAR-T Cell Therapy?
| What is it? |
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| How does it work? |
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| Therapy Process | The process involves several steps, including:
1. Collecting T Cells: Blood is drawn from the patient’s arm, and T cells are separated from the blood using an apheresis machine. 2. Engineering T Cells: In a laboratory, the T cells are modified by adding a manufactured CAR, and they are allowed to multiply and grow. 3. Infusing CAR-T Cells: Once enough CAR-T cells are prepared, they are injected back into the patient’s arm.
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| Cancers Treated |
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NexCAR19: India’s Indigenously Developed CAR-T Therapy
- NexCAR19 is designed to target cancer cells carrying the CD19 protein, a marker on cancer cells, enhancing precision in treatment.
- It has been developed jointly by IIT Bombay and the Tata Memorial Centre.
- Initially approved for patients aged 15 and above with B-cell lymphomas who did not respond to standard treatments, leading to relapse or recurrence.
Effectiveness and Unique Features
- Approximately 70% of patients respond to NexCAR19 treatment, with some achieving complete remission.
- Lab and animal studies indicate lower drug-related toxicities, including reduced neurotoxicity and Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS).
- Trials for paediatric patients are underway at Tata Memorial Hospital, ensuring broader applicability.
Availability and Affordability
- ImmunoACT is in the process of securing licenses and partnering with hospitals, including Tata Memorial, Nanavati, Fortis, and Jaslok, across multiple cities.
- Initially priced at Rs 30-40 lakh, ImmunoACT aims to eventually reduce the cost to Rs 10-20 lakh, making the therapy more accessible.
PYQ:2017: Stem cell therapy is gaining popularity in India to treat a wide variety of medical conditions including leukaemia, Thalassemia, damaged cornea and several burns. Describe briefly what stem cell therapy is and what advantages it has over other treatments?
Practice MCQ:With reference to the CAR-T Cell Therapy, consider the following statements: 1. T cells are Red Blood Cells responsible for identifying and fighting illness and infection. 2. Each T cell has a receptor that can recognize antigens (proteins or molecules recognized by the immune system). Which of the given statements is/are correct? (a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 |
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