Vector BioMed, a contract vector development and manufacturing organization, has announced a strategic partnership with Muni Seva Ashram's Kailash Cancer Hospital and Research Center (KCHRC) in Gujarat, India, to bring affordable CAR-T cell therapy to rural populations. The collaboration positions Vector BioMed as the exclusive CVDMO partner for KCHRC's cell therapy program, with first patients expected to receive treatment in Q1 2026.
Expanding Access to Advanced Cancer Treatment
The partnership, which began in June 2024 after more than a year of due diligence and technical evaluations, will make KCHRC the first site in Gujarat and one of the first in India to deliver advanced CAR-T treatments outside of a major metropolitan area. Vector BioMed supplies rapid CAR-T formats of prebuilt CARs and validated processes, including a cell manufacturing process ready anti-CD19 CAR-T solution and other IND-ready product options for the production of autologous CAR-T therapies.
Located in rural Gujarat, KCHRC serves over 70,000 outpatients annually, offering reduced or no-cost care to more than 60% of its patients. The hospital is part of Muni Seva Ashram, a nonprofit institution founded to provide equitable healthcare to India's most vulnerable communities. With 400 beds, 10 operating rooms, three linear accelerators, and growing GMP capabilities, KCHRC is quickly becoming a regional hub for cutting-edge therapeutics.
"We are pleased to collaborate with Muni Seva Ashram and be a part of bringing financially feasible treatments to patients who never imagined having access," said Dr. Boro Dropulić, CEO of Vector BioMed. "Through this partnership, we're delivering one of the world's most advanced cancer therapies to communities that have long been excluded from cutting-edge care."
Platform Technology for Resource-Limited Settings
Vector BioMed is supporting the rollout with its LENTIVERSE™ system, a platform solution designed for flexibility, affordability, and scalability, especially for low- and middle-income countries. The platform technology allows for the treatment of one patient per day, isn't locked into expensive process technologies, and significantly reduces costs compared to other proprietary systems, making it ideal for nonprofit and resource-limited hospitals like KCHRC.
"This collaboration brings us closer to our goal of providing world-class cancer treatment to every patient who walks through our doors, regardless of their ability to pay," said Dr. Vikram Patel, Chair of Muni Seva Ashram. "Vector BioMed's knowledge and excellence in vector manufacturing and clinical support has strongly impacted our cell therapy efforts – and will soon greatly impact the lives of our patients."
Breaking Geographic and Economic Barriers
The partnership represents a significant step toward making advanced cancer therapies accessible in underserved regions. Vector BioMed, a public benefit corporation spun out of the nonprofit Caring Cross, supports biotech startups, research institutions, and global health systems with customizable and off-the-shelf vector solutions.
"We're living our mission of immediate global access – delivering real solutions to real people – which directly supports Muni Seva Ashram's institution," added Dr. Dropulić. "With Muni Seva Ashram, we're proving that access to life-saving therapies should not depend on where you live or what you can afford."
The partnership will be highlighted in an upcoming global webinar hosted by the Cell & Gene community titled "Fulfilling the Promise of Advanced Therapies and a Noble Cause," scheduled for July 24, 2025, exploring how advanced therapies can be made accessible in low-resource settings through mission-driven models.
