Caring Cross Partners with Amrita Research Center to Develop Affordable CAR-T and Gene Therapies for Underserved Indian Populations
Key Insights
Caring Cross (search), a U.S.-based non-profit, has announced a strategic partnership with Amrita Research Center Delhi (search) to develop affordable cell and gene therapies targeting sickle cell disease (search), thalassemia (search), and various cancers in India's underserved communities.
The collaboration will establish decentralized therapeutic manufacturing to reduce costs and advance TriCAR-T (search) cell therapies for leukemia (search) and lymphoma (search) treatment at the point of care.
This partnership addresses the critical need for accessible advanced therapies in India, a country with 1.4 billion people facing substantial burden of hereditary blood disorders and cancers affecting lower-income populations.
Caring Cross (search), a U.S.-based non-profit organization, has announced a strategic partnership with the Amrita Research Center Delhi (search) (ARCD) and Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham to develop and implement affordable, scalable cell and gene therapy solutions for underserved communities in India. The collaboration specifically targets sickle cell disease (search), thalassemia (search), and various cancers affecting the country's 1.4 billion population.
Addressing the Accessibility Crisis in Advanced Therapies
Cell and gene therapies have emerged as transformative medical innovations capable of curing or significantly improving outcomes for previously incurable diseases. However, their exceptionally high cost has limited accessibility worldwide, creating a critical gap in treatment options for underserved populations.
"This partnership shares a critical mission: to dismantle the financial barriers to CAR-T and stem cell therapies, making these life-saving treatments accessible to all in need, especially for marginalized and underprivileged patients," said Dr. Boro Dropulić, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Caring Cross (search).
Decentralized Manufacturing Strategy
The partnership will establish decentralized therapeutic advanced manufacturing designed to reduce the cost of delivering cures at the point of care. This approach includes advancing TriCAR-T (search) cell therapies for the treatment of leukemia (search) and lymphoma (search), along with other next-generation affordable cell and gene therapy platforms focused on equitable access.
The Amrita Research Center Delhi (search) integrates basic science, molecular biology, translational research programs, and on-site Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) facilities, enabling rapid progress from laboratory discoveries to patient treatments.
Targeting Major Public Health Challenges
"Sickle Cell Disease (search), Thalassemia (search) and various cancers remain major public health challenges in India, particularly among economically disadvantaged populations," said Prof. Amit Kumar Dinda, Director of the ARCD, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Faridabad Campus. "By joining hands with Caring Cross (search), we aim to develop and deliver cell and gene therapy products at a cost that makes them truly accessible."
The partnership addresses diseases that disproportionately affect lower-income and historically underserved communities in India, where hereditary blood disorders and cancers represent a substantial disease burden.
National Health Alignment and Global Impact
The collaboration supports India's national public health priorities, with sickle cell disease (search) recognized as a major priority by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Expanding affordable, curative treatment options aligns with national strategies to reduce disease burden, improve health equity, and strengthen local biomanufacturing capabilities.
"This partnership has the potential to create a model for equitable advanced therapy solutions not only across India, but globally," noted Prof. Dinda.
Dr. Shantikumar Nair, Associate Provost at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, emphasized the institution's founding vision: "The founding vision of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham is to apply science with compassion for the benefit of humanity. With this collaboration, we are building upon that vision — transforming advanced research into therapies that can help heal and uplift those most in need."
Organizational Capabilities
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, guided by the humanitarian vision of Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi (Amma), has placed compassion-driven innovation at the core of its research mission. The university is ranked as a top three private university in India and overall ranked 8th in the country.
Caring Cross (search) develops technologies and therapeutic candidates that improve the accessibility, affordability, and applicability of advanced medicines like CAR-T therapy (search) and stem cell gene therapy. The organization's vectors are manufactured by Vector BioMed (search), a for-profit vector contract development and manufacturing organization specializing in rapid lentiviral vector manufacturing solutions.