Mr. Hitesh Oberoi, Co-promoter, MD & CEO, Info Edge at IDS2025

• Groundbreaking CAR T-Cell Therapy: Qartemi® is India’s first global CAR T-cell therapy, locally manufactured at Immuneel’s state-of-the-art facility in Bangalore, offering lasting remission for relapsed/refractory B-cell Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
• Strategic Hospital Partnerships: In collaboration with top hospitals including Narayana Health, Apollo Hospitals, CMC Vellore, Manipal Hospitals among others. Immuneel ensures access to advanced therapies like Qartemi®

Mumbai, 20 January 2025: In a significant step forward for India’s cancer treatment, Immuneel Therapeutics (Immuneel), proudly unveils Qartemi®, country’s first global CAR T-cell therapy for adult B-cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (B-NHL). A personalized therapy for adult patients with relapsed or refractory B-NHL, Immuneel, India’s leading cell and gene therapy start-up, addresses a critical gap in India’s cancer immunotherapy landscape. This groundbreaking therapy—benchmarked to global standards—is now available locally, offering renewed hope to patients for whom conventional therapies including chemotherapy prove ineffective.

India faces a rising burden of blood cancers, with around 120,000 new cases and over 70,000 deaths annually from leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. Amidst the increasing incidence of blood cancer cases, Qartemi®—a pioneering CAR-T cell therapy from Immuneel Therapeutics—stands as a lifeline, representing the need for advanced treatment in CAR-T therapy becomes increasingly critical.

Speaking on this, Ms. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Board Director & Co-Founder, Immuneel Therapeutics said, ” Since Immuneel’s inception in 2019, our mission has been to offer affordable and innovative, lifesaving therapies for cancer that are otherwise inaccessible. With Qartemi®, our flagship CAR T-cell therapy, we aim to transform cancer treatment in India by providing globally advanced, personalized therapies at an affordable cost. Designed to improve patient outcomes, Qartemi® exemplifies our commitment to positioning India as a leader in next-generation, transformative therapies.”

Commenting on the company’s mission, Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee, Board Director & Co-Founder, Immuneel Therapeutics, said, “The launch of Qartemi® marks a pivotal moment in India’s fight against cancer. By combining world-class research CAR-T cell therapy with indigenous manufacturing, we are offering new hope to patients facing aggressive blood cancers. By bringing globally benchmarked CAR-T cell therapy to India, we are not only providing a breakthrough treatment but also redefining what is possible in precision medicine. This is a critical step in ensuring that advanced, life-saving therapies are within reach for patients who need them most.”

Amit Mookim, CEO, Immuneel Therapeutics, added, “Qartemi® is a testament to our unwavering commitment to bringing world-class care closer to home. By offering Qartemi® at a significantly accessible price compared to global alternatives, we are proud to develop this therapy indigenously at our facility in Bangalore to ensure global standards of safety and efficacy. For the first time, Indian patients now have access to lasting remission of relapsed and refractory Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, offering hope to patients when conventional therapies fall short. Collaborating with global partners to provide access to advanced treatments and cutting-edge therapies is the way forward”.

Clinical trial (IMAGINE) and Key Milestone Achieved

• Immuneel initiated India’s first CAR T cell therapy trial in 2022 for a novel autologous CD19 directed CAR-T cell therapy in patients with relapsed / refractory B cell malignancies
• The IMAGINE trial was conducted across Narayana Hospital in Bengaluru, Apollo Cancer Hospital in Chennai and PGIMER in Chandigarh
• The results from the IMAGINE trial showed that the efficacy and safety of Qartemi® is similar to CAR T-cell therapies approved by the USFDA

Immuneel’s IMAGINE Phase 2 trial achieved 83.3% ORR at Day+90, setting a new benchmark for CAR-T therapy in India

Qartemi®, India’s first international CAR T-cell therapy, is approved for the treatment of adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Licensed from Hospital Clínic de Barcelona (HCB), a globally renowned institution at the forefront of cell therapy innovation, Qartemi® represents a milestone in personalized medicine. This therapy harnesses a patient’s immune cells to target and eliminate cancer, offering new hope to those battling aggressive blood cancers.

Immuneel has partnered with leading hospitals, including Narayana Health, Apollo Hospitals, CMC Vellore & Ludhiana, Manipal Hospitals, RGCIRC Delhi, SGPGI Lucknow, Amrita Hospital Faridabad, HOC Vedanta Ahmedabad, Cytecare Bangalore, Sparsh Bangalore, Marengo Asia Hospitals among others, to provide Qartemi® to their patients. CellSpectrum™ Immuneel’s comprehensive resource platform provides educational materials, clinical insights, and personalized tools to support patients and healthcare professionals (HCPs) in navigating Cell and Gene Therapies (CGTs). Through these collaborations, Immuneel aims to streamline advanced treatment delivery and enhance the care experience for all stakeholders.

The launch of Qartemi®, Immuneel Therapeutics is setting a new standard in high quality and accessible cancer treatment, transforming the therapeutic landscape for blood cancers in India. This historic launch marks the beginning of a new era in personalized precision therapy, where hope and healing are within reach for countless Indian families, aligning with India’s mission to fight cancer and improve healthcare access for all.