Cellogen Therapeutics Secures $2.4M to Advance Affordable CAR-T Cancer Therapies in India
Key Insights
Cellogen Therapeutics (search) raised ₹20 crore ($2.4 million) from Kotak Alternate Asset Managers (search) to advance its CAR-T (search) clinical programs and expand gene therapy pipeline.
The biotech startup is developing bispecific, dual-antigen (search) CAR-T (search) therapy targeting two cancer markers simultaneously to reduce relapse rates compared to conventional single-target treatments.
Cellogen aims to make CAR-T (search) therapies accessible by pricing treatments at $60,000-$70,000, significantly lower than current costs of $500,000-$700,000.
Indian biotech startup Cellogen Therapeutics (search) has secured ₹20 crore (approximately $2.4 million) in funding from Kotak Alternate Asset Managers (search) (Kotak Alts) to advance its next-generation CAR-T (search) cell therapies for cancer treatment. The investment, made through the Kotak Life Sciences Fund I (KLSF-I), will support the company's clinical programs, expand its gene therapy pipeline, and strengthen GMP-compliant manufacturing capabilities.
Addressing India's Cancer Treatment Gap
Founded in 2021 by Dr. Gaurav Kharya and Dr. Tanveer Ahmad, Cellogen Therapeutics (search) is tackling the significant burden of blood cancers (search) and genetic blood disorders (search) in India, where access to advanced therapies remains severely limited due to cost barriers. Current CAR-T (search) treatments cost between $500,000 to $700,000, making them inaccessible to most patients in emerging markets.
"India carries a high burden of blood cancers (search) and genetic blood disorders (search), yet access to advanced therapies such as CAR-T (search) and gene therapy remains limited, largely due to cost," said Ashish Ranjan, Director at Kotak Alts. "Cellogen is working to address this gap through an indigenous, IP-led platform that brings together next-generation science and cost-efficient development."
Innovative Dual-Target Approach
Cellogen's core platform centers on a bispecific, dual-antigen (search) CAR-T (search) therapy that represents a significant advancement over conventional treatments. While traditional CAR-T therapies target a single cancer marker, Cellogen's approach simultaneously targets two different markers on cancer cells. This dual-targeting strategy not only enhances treatment effectiveness but also significantly reduces the probability of cancer relapse compared to existing single-target CAR-T treatments.
"Its bispecific CAR-T (search) program places the company among a small group working on advanced multi-targeted CAR-T approaches globally," Ranjan noted, highlighting the company's position in the competitive landscape of cellular immunotherapy.
Clinical Development and Manufacturing Capabilities
The company is preparing to initiate Phase I human clinical trials, subject to regulatory approvals, in collaboration with CMC Vellore (search). Cellogen has already secured a patent for its CAR-T (search) platform and operates an integrated, GMP-compliant manufacturing facility in Noida with in-house capabilities in CAR design and lentiviral vector manufacturing.
Dr. Gaurav Kharya emphasized the company's mission: "Cell and gene therapies have the potential to fundamentally change how many diseases are treated. However, challenges around cost, scalability, and access continue to limit their adoption. With the support of partners like NATCO and Kotak Alts, we are focused on building therapies that are innovative, cost-effective, and practical to scale for wider patient access."
AI-Driven Development and Pipeline Expansion
Beyond its lead CAR-T (search) program, Cellogen is developing early-stage treatments for beta thalassemia (search) and sickle cell disease (search). The company leverages AI-driven platforms in its therapy design and development process, as explained by co-founder Dr. Tanveer Ahmad: "Our AI-driven platforms are central to how we design and develop cell and gene therapies. This partnership gives us the opportunity to scale these efforts and move more decisively toward next-generation approaches, including in vivo CAR-T therapies."
Strategic Backing and Market Position
Prior to the Kotak Alts investment, Hyderabad-based pharmaceutical company Natco Pharma acquired over 5% stake in Cellogen Therapeutics (search) for ₹15 crore, demonstrating industry confidence in the company's approach. The startup aims to price its treatments at $60,000 to $70,000, representing a dramatic cost reduction that could make life-saving CAR-T (search) therapies accessible to a broader patient population.
Kotak Alts' KLSF-I fund, which marked its first close at ₹250 crore (around $29 million) in January last year, specifically targets life sciences, medical devices, digital health, consumer wellness, diagnostics and delivery companies across early, growth and late-stage investments.