CAR T-Cell Therapy For Multiple Myeloma

CAR T-cell therapy has today become a revolutionizing treatment for cancers like Multiple Myeloma (blood cancer). This cancer affects people between the ages of 50 and 70, with nearly 35,000 new cases appearing every year.  The disease is notorious for reappearing after treatment in about two years. It is also known for becoming refractory, i.e. not responding to any treatment options.

In Car T-cell therapy for multiple myeloma, the T cells from the patient’s immune system are changed so they can recognize blood cancer cells. These changed cells are injected back into the bloodstream to fight cancer. In 2021, Abecma, a type of CAR T-cell therapy, was used on some people with refractory multiple myeloma. 28% of those people were cured of their cancer. The rest had their cancer sent into lasting remission.

Today, data proves that CD19-targeted CAR T cells are a potent treatment for people with B cell lymphomas. Combined with treatments like stem cell transplantation, CAR T-cell therapy sends multiple myeloma into lasting remission or cures it entirely.

The Process Of CAR T-Cell Therapy For Multiple Myeloma

To understand the process of CAR T-cell therapy for multiple myeloma, it’s essential to know about T cells and antigens. T cells are white blood cells in the body. They detect and fight a disease or infection. These cells each have receptors that can identify antigens or proteins that the immune system can recognize. Disease-causing antigens are recognized immediately by the immune system and they are destroyed.

T cells which help orchestrate the immune response and directly kill cells infected by pathogens, form the basis of CAR T-cell therapy.

In CAR T-cell therapy for multiple myeloma, doctors collect T cells from the patient. They then re-engineer them to produce proteins on their surface called chimeric antigen receptors (receptor proteins that have been engineered to give T cells the new ability to target a specific antigen), or CARs.

The CARs recognize and bind to specific antigens on the surface of cancer cells. These receptors don’t exist naturally and are synthetic molecules. The revamped T cells are “expanded” into the millions in the laboratory; They are then infused back into the patient. CAR T cells continue to multiply in the patient’s body and, with guidance from their engineered receptor, find and destroy any cancer cells with the target antigen on their surfaces.

The Success Rate Of CAR T-Cell Therapy For Multiple Myeloma

CAR T-cell therapy is highly effective against multiple myeloma, with a response rate of up to 71%. This response lasts for eight months in patients who have been administered precise dosages. Car T-cell therapy for multiple myeloma is specifically effective for patients who have had previous treatments without any success.

Recent updates on CAR T clinical trials for multiple myeloma show that close to 90% of patients show no side effects, such as graft versus host disease (GVHD). This condition is common after the bone marrow starts making healthy cells and manifests as ulcers, a rash, and stomach pain. It indicates the safety and efficacy of CAR T-cell therapy for multiple myeloma.

Some factors that influence lasting remission from CAR T-cell therapy for multiple myeloma are:

• A stringent deep initial response
• Lesser volume of tumor volume
• No extramedullary disease (rare multiple myeloma which involves various organs like skin, liver, and central nervous system)
• Greater circulation of CAR T cell levels
• Lymphodepleting chemotherapy for reducing white blood cells

Who Is A Good Candidate For CAR T-Cell Therapy For Multiple Myeloma?

Good candidates for CAR T-cell therapy are those who have progressed to the third or fourth line of cancer therapy. Such patients have refractory myeloma after four lines of therapy and are suitable for CAR T-cell treatment.

Another criterion is that the patient needs to be above 25 years. He or she should also have good general health besides their cancer. This is because sometimes CAR T-cell therapy for multiple myeloma can have serious side effects. These include muscle pain, nausea, difficulty in breathing, chills, and fever.

Cost Of CAR T-Cell Therapy For Multiple Myeloma In India

The total cost of CAR T-cell therapy for multiple myeloma in India is around Rs. 6465353.70 or $78,000. This table will give you a breakdown of this cost.

CAR T-Cell Therapy Hospitals and Doctors in India

In India, CAR T-cell therapy for multiple myeloma is done in the following hospitals:

• Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai
• Apollo Hospital, Chennai
• Max Hospital, Saket, Delhi
• Cytecare Cancer Hospital, Bangalore
• Amrita Hospital, Faridabad

Treating Multiple Myeloma With CAR T At Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai

The first patient in India received CAR T-cell therapy at Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, on June 4, 2021. The therapy targets B-cell cancers, such as lymphoma and multiple myeloma. CAR T-cell therapy NexCAR19 was approved by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization for commercial use in October 2023.

The main oncologists involved in using CAR T for cancer treatment include:

• Gaurav Narula – He is a Professor of Pediatric Oncology & Health Sciences. He worked with the Indian Navy for 25 years. Dr. Narula’s focus is on improving multiple myeloma cancer treatment outcomes with novel and low-cost alternatives and technology like CAR T-cells.
• Navin Khattry – He is the deputy director of Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer. Previously, he was the Assistant Professor of Medical Oncology at Tata Memorial Centre. Dr. Khattry has extensive experience in researching and using the latest advancements to eliminate cancers like multiple myeloma.
• Rajendra Badwe – He is a surgical oncologist with an experience of 39 years. Dr. Badwe has been involved in using CAR T-cell therapy for treating multiple myeloma for the past 4 years.
• Jyoti Bajpai – She is the Professor at Tata Memorial Cancer Center. Her core interest areas are immune oncology and CAR T-cell therapy for stopping or sending cancers like multiple myeloma into long-term remission.

CAR T-Cell Therapy To Successfully Treat Multiple Myeloma At Apollo Cancer Centres (ACCs), Chennai

Apollo Cancer Centres has begun providing Made in India CAR-T cell therapy in the form of NexCAR19 (Actalycabtagene autoleucel) for multiple myeloma in patients aged 15 years and above. Over 25,000 patients have received this treatment so far. The major oncologists involved in doing this therapy at Apollo include the following:

• T. Raja – He is the director of Medical Oncology at ACC, Chennai. Dr. Raja is an internationally acclaimed physician with 20 years of experience in treating cancer patients of various ages.
• Revathi Raj – She is the Senior Consultant of Paediatric Haematology Oncology at ACCs, Chennai. Dr. Raj has over 21 years of experience in treating cancer patients. She is extensively involved in bone marrow transplant, stem cell treatment, and CAR T-cell therapy for multiple myeloma.
• Vikas Mahajan – Dr. Mahajan is a surgical oncologist with 28 years of experience. He has been treating cell tumors, breast cancer, prostate, and gynecological cancer for decades. Recently, he has been involved in using CAR T-cell therapy for leukemia.
• Rajaraman – Dr. Rajaram is a surgical oncologist and general physician at ACCs. He has 23 years of experience in providing cancer screening, treating head and neck tumors, chemotherapy, and parotid surgery.

CAR T-Cell Therapy To Fight Cancer At Max Hospital, Saket, Delhi

CAR T-cell therapy is available at Max Hospital, Delhi. It launched this treatment in collaboration with ImmunoACT, an Indian company that originated at IIT Bombay. CAR T-cell therapy at Max Hospital, a multi-specialty facility in Saket has shown remarkable success in treating blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma. Clinical trials have demonstrated that some patients can achieve complete remission from multiple myeloma using this therapy. The main doctors at Max Hospital involved in this treatment are:

• Harit Chaturvedi – He is the chairman of the Max Institute of Cancer Care. Dr. Harit has 33 years of experience in treating different types of cancers. He is closely involved in using CAR T-cell therapy for cancer patients at Max Healthcare.
• Pramod Kumar Julka – Dr. Julka has 44 years of experience in cancer care. He is the former president of the Association of Radiation Oncologists of India. Dr. Julka is currently working to make the CAR T-cell therapy program a success for Indian patients.
• (Dr.) Atul Sharma – Dr. Sharma is the Vice Chairman of Medical Oncology at Max. He has been involved in treating cancer patients of various ages for 25 years.
• Sandeep Batra – Dr. Batra is the senior director at Max Hospital, Saket. His specialties are gynecologic oncology, uro-oncology gastrointestinal oncology, and medical oncology.

Car T-Cell Therapy To Beat Multiple Myeloma At Cytecare Hospitals, Bangalore

Cytecare Hospitals in Karnataka, in collaboration with ImmunoACT, has started offering CAR-T cell therapy to save the lives of millions of cancer patients. Patients aged 15 and above can take this therapy for refractory or relapsing myeloma. The major doctors involved in this treatment at Cytecare include:

• Prasad Narayanan – He is the director of Medical Oncology, Haemato Oncology & Bone Marrow Transplant, at Cytecare. Previously, he worked at Dubai Hospital, Mazumdar-Shaw Cancer Centre, and Narayana Health City, and has been recognized with the Dronacharya Award for Oncology in the CME Excellence Summit. Dr. Narayanan is deeply involved in enhancing clinical paradigms using CAR T-cell treatment.
• Akshay Kudpaje – He is the director at Head & Neck Oncology. He has been caring for cancer patients suffering from oral, thyroid, and laryngeal cancers. Dr. Kudpae is also a member of The Foundation for Head & Neck Oncology India.
• Aparna Subraya Gangoli – Dr. Aparna is the head of Laboratory Medicine. She has 20 years of experience as a skilled surgical oncopathologist and cytopathologist. Dr. Gangoli is also one of the major doctors associated with providing CAR T-cell therapy at Cytecare Hospitals.
• Adithya V Naragund – Dr. Naragund is the senior GI and HBP surgery consultant. He is deeply involved in researching and using the latest advancements in cancer treatments. These include robotic surgery, advanced laparoscopic surgery, and CAR T-cell therapy for multiple myeloma.

CAR T-Cell Therapy To Defeat Multiple Myeloma At Amrita Hospital, Faridabad

Amrita Hospital in Faridabad has become the first in Northern India to offer CAR T-cell treatment to cancer patients. It is a top multi-specialty hospital providing robust medical care to Indians and international patients. The hospital has administered this therapy to four B-cell lymphoma patients and is monitoring their progress.

• Prashant Mehta – Dr. Mehta is a noted medical oncologist at Amrita Hospital. He majorly treats multiple myeloma in children and adults. Dr. Mehta is supervising the cellular therapy program at Amrita Hospital and working to make CAR-T cell therapies more accessible.
• Sanjeev Singh – Dr. Sing is the medical director at Amrita Hospital, Faridabad. He has been working with researchers to improve CAR T-cell therapy and create the first-ever collaborative cell therapy lab.
• Pravas Chandra Mishra – Dr. Mishra is a leading hemato oncologist at Amrita Hospital. Currently, he heads the Medical Oncology and Haematology department. Dr. Mishra has done various stem cell transplants and is associated with providing these treatments along with CAR T-cell therapy.

Cost of CAR T-Cell Therapy For Multiple Myeloma In Turkey

CAR T-cell treatment for blood cancer like multiple myeloma costs $1,65,875 in Turkey’s select hospitals. Here’s how this cost is distributed.

CAR T-Cell Therapy Hospitals And Doctors In Turkey

The following hospitals in Turkey are providing CAR T-cell therapy for multiple myeloma.

• Liv Hospital
• Acibadem Altunizade Clinic
• Medipol Hospital
• Medical Park Hospital
• Anadolu Medical Center

CAR T-Cell Therapy At Liv Hospital, Istanbul

Liv Hospital in Istanbul, Turkey has highly developed oncology, translatology, robotic surgery, and stem cell therapy departments for treating cancer. The hospital has been recognized for offering CAR T-cell therapy for multiple myeloma patients. It is one of the few hospitals in Turkey to have successfully used this treatment on cancer patients. The following doctors are involved in this advanced treatment approach at Liv Hospital.

• Prof. Dr. Duygu Derin – Dr. Derin is a medical oncologist with 31 years of experience. She is a member of the Medical Oncology Society and the Chamber of Medicine. Dr. Derin has been working as a part of the team that offers CAR T-cell therapy for multiple myeloma and other cancers at Liv Hospital.
• Meltem Topalgökçeli Selam – Dr. Selam is a specialist in gastrointestinal and ovarian cancer. She has 16 years of experience in treating cancer patients. Currently, she performs the latest procedures for treating patients. These include chemotherapy, stem cell transplantation, and CAR T-cell therapy.
• Merdan Fayda – Dr. Mersan is a radiation oncologist with 23 years of experience. He treats patients with skin, blood, breast, central nervous system, and soft tissue cancers. Dr. Fayda does high-precision radiotherapy and IMRT. He has also been involved in supervising patients getting CAR T-cell therapy

CAR T-cell Therapy To Win Against Cancer At Acibadem Altunizade Clinic

Acibadem Altunizade Clinic provides customized CAR T-cell therapy for multiple myeloma patients. Doctors use the CD-19 receptor in this treatment, which benefits those with relapsed or refractory B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Acibadem Altunizade Clinic caters to international patients with its globally competitive and integrated healthcare services. The center uses a multidisciplinary approach and has a large and experienced team of doctors who use advanced technology to treat cancer. The following doctors are involved in developing the CAR T-cell therapy program at Acibadem.

• M.D. Abdullah Buyukcelik – Dr. Buyukcelik leads the Internal Medicine Department of Oncology at Acibadem Health Group in Turkey. He has 24 years of experience and is an active member of many medical associations like the Association of Internal Medicine, Medical Oncology Association, and Ankara Medical Oncology Association.
• D Aziz Yazar – Dr. Yazar is the most sought-after doctor at Acobadem in Istanbul, Turkey. He has 33 years of experience in treating a variety of cancers. Dr. Yazar, who has previously worked at the American Hospital and the Istanbul University Institute of Oncology is also associated with delivering CAR T-cell therapy.
• Alpar Sonkaya – Dr. Sonkaya is a top oncologist at Acıbadem Health Group. He has worked at Ümraniye Training and Research Hospital previously. Dr. Sonkaya is also a part of the Turkish Medical Association Istanbul Medical Chamber, the European Society of Medical Oncology, and the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
• Basak Oyan Uluc – Dr. Uluc is a specialized medical oncologist at Acibadem. She is currently working to create preventive measures programs for patients using an interdisciplinary approach that considers radiology, pathology, and therapy. She has also been involved in CAR T-cell therapy for blood cancer patients.

CAR T-Cell Treatment For Multiple Myeloma At Medipol Mega University Hospital

The Medipol Mega University Hospital in Turkey is a recognized leader in cancer treatment and care. Its oncological department receives over lakh patients every year.

The hospital follows a multidisciplinary approach to treat different types of cancer. It provides budget-friendly services. Lately, it has started providing CAR T cell therapy besides stem cell transplantation for blood cancer patients. 

• Prof. M.D. Kursat Ozdilli – Prof. Ozdilli heads the pediatric hematology and oncology department at Medipol Hospital in Turkey. He has over two decades of experience treating different types of cancers. Dr. Ozdilli is working to enhance the current state of CAR T cell therapy for multiple myeloma. 
• M.D Hakan Kocar – Dr. Hakan Kosar is a general practitioner at Medipol Mega University Hospital. He is specialized in medical oncology and has 26 years of experience in delivering quality cancer care. 
• Dr. Ertan Taskopru – Dr. Taskopru is a graduate from Uludag University. He is one of the leading oncologists at Medipol Hospital. Dr. Taskopru is researching and is closely involved with developing CAR T cell treatment for multiple myeloma. 

Medical Park Group In Istanbul For High-Quality CAR T-Cell Therapy

Medical Park Hospital in Turkey offers CAR T-cell therapy for cancer. It is done by a highly experienced team comprising hematologists, oncologists, and paramedical staff. Patients can also avail themselves of video telemedicine consultations before getting CAR-T therapy in this hospital.

• Dr. Savaş Tuna – With 30 years of experience, Dr. Tuna is a well-experienced medical oncologist in Turkey’s Medical Park Hospital. He specializes in chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and CAR T-cell therapy for cancers like multiple myeloma. In the past, he has worked at Etimesgut Air Hospital, Eitimim and Research Hospital, and Ankara Atatürk Training and Research Hospital.
• Ilan Gil Ron – Dr. Ron is a radiation oncologist with 32 years of experience. He is a member of the Israeli Society for Clinical Oncology and Radiation and has published over 80 medical papers. Lately, he has been associated with improving patient outcomes using CAR T-cell therapy.
• A.Uğur Yılmaz M.D. – Dr. Yilmaz has 20 years of experience in treating skin cancer, lymphoma, and sarcomas. He is well-known for using the latest research in treating patients at Medical Park Hospital in Istanbul.

Beat Blood Cancer At Anadolu Medical Center, Istanbul

Anadolu Medical Center in Istanbul, Turkey, offers CAR T-cell therapy for multiple myeloma and lymphoma. The center provides American treatment standards at affordable prices to international patients.

It is affiliated with Johns Hopkins Hospital and ranks among the top 10 hospitals globally as per the Medical Travel Quality Alliance (MTQUA). The major medical oncologists involved in researching and providing CAR T-cell therapy for cancer at Anadolu are:

• MD Zafer Gulbas – Dr. Gulbas is the director of medical oncology at Anadolu Medical Center and the founder of the Bone Marrow Transplantation Center. He specializes in providing CAR T-cell therapy for cancer treatment. Under his supervision, patients receive this treatment along with language assistance and airport transfers.
• Savas Kansoy – He is a pediatric hematology and oncology specialist. Dr. Kansoy is a member of many medical oncology associations and has won several awards for his research work. Currently, he is working to boost the outcomes of CAR T-cell therapy for cancer.
• Serdar Turhal – Dr. Turhal specializes in various medical oncology procedures. Previously, he was chosen as the President of the Oncology Department of the European Medical Association for 2 years in 2015. He is abreast of the latest research and advancements in cancer treatments like immunotherapy and CAR T-cell therapy.
• Seref Komurcu – Dr. Komurcu has worked at eminent hospitals like Cleveland Clinic in the USA. He has been a member of the Pharmacovigilance Commission and Oncology Advisory Commission in the Ministry of Health. At Anadolu Medical Center, Dr. Komurcu is one of the leading oncologists for the CAR T-cell therapy program.

How Much Is CAR T-Cell Therapy In Israel?

CAR T-cell therapy for multiple myeloma in Israel’s leading hospital averages around $1,69,790. Here’s a breakdown of this cost.

CAR T-Cell Therapy Hospitals And Doctors In Israel?

CAR T-cell therapy for multiple myeloma is being offered at the following hospitals:

• Hadassah Hospital
• Sheba Medical Center

Hadassah Hospital’s Affordable CAR T-Cell Therapy

Hadassah Medical Organization has introduced CAR T-cell therapy, the novel immunotherapy treatment at affordable prices. The idea to use this treatment was conceived by Zelig Eshhar, PhD, at Israel’s Weizmann Institute of Science. Today, it is being promoted and developed by Dr. Stepensky at Hadassah Hospital.

Hadassah is treating patients with NEXICART-1 (NCT04720313). In the coming years, it will expand its clinical testing in the US. Until now, this therapy has provided successful outcomes on three batches of patients suffering from relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. The major doctors using this treatment at Hadassah are:

• Polina Stepensky – Dr. Stepensky is the head of the Department of TKM and Immunotherapy in Children and Adults at Hadassah Hospital in Israel, Jerusalem. She introduced this treatment in Israel and developed a more cost-effective approach to using it.
• Tamar Peretz-Yablonski – Dr. Tamar has 40 years of experience as an oncology specialist. Presently, she heads the Sharett Institute of Oncology, Hadassah University Hospital. She is also testing and providing effective CAR T-cell therapies to blood cancer patients.
• Vivian Barak – Dr. Barak specializes in immunology and CAR T-cell therapy. She also teaches at the Hadassah University Medical Center. Dr. Barak has 40 years of experience in caring for cancer patients through novel treatments.

Sheba Medical Center Making CAR T-Cell Therapy Accessible

In Israel, CAR T-cell therapy for multiple myeloma is also performed at Sheba Medical Center. The treatment program is led by the Pediatric Hemato-Oncology Department and the Ella Lemelbaum Institute for Immuno-Oncology. In Sheba Hospital, the success rate of this treatment ranges from 80 to 85% in young children and teenagers, and 70% for the entire population. Until now, patients from Brazil, Cyprus, Ireland, Italy, Russia, South Africa, Serbia, India, and Ukraine have received this treatment at Sheba.

The hospital’s CAR-T programs, which commenced in 2016, have treated 258 patients so far. It makes Sheba one of the largest CAR-T cell therapy centers in Europe. Patients undergoing CAR T-cell therapy here typically spend around 10 days for treatment. It is followed by a two-week hospitalization period for monitoring and rehabilitation. The treatment is fully according to the individual needs and the health profile of each patient. Major oncologists involved in this program include:

• Dr. Arnon Nagler – He is the director of the departments of Hematology, Bone Marrow Transplantation, and Cord Blood Bank at the Chaim Sheba Medical Center. Dr. Nagler has been working for 25 years in the domains of cell-mediated immunotherapy and transplantation. Currently, he is closely involved in using innovative approaches like CAR T-cell therapy for patients from across the world at Sheba Hospital.
• Dr. Abraham Avigdor – Dr. Avigdor is the founder of the Israeli Lymphoma Working Group. He has received many honors for his expertise in hematology. He uses advanced treatment methodologies to treat cancer patients. CAR T-cell therapy is one of the many approaches he is using for multiple myeloma patients at Sheba.
• Dr. Elad Jacoby – Dr. Elad has expertise in using CAR T-cell and stem cell transplantation for leukemia and multiple myeloma patients. Currently, he leads the Pediatric Cell Therapy Center at Sheba. He is also certified by the Pediatric Hematology and Oncology.

The Price Of CAR T-Cell Therapy In Singapore

CAR T-cell therapy’s price in Singapore is $4,30,630. This table will help you understand the cost breakdown in detail.

CAR T-Cell Therapy Hospitals And Doctors In Singapore

In Singapore, CAR T-cell therapy for multiple myeloma is being provided at the following facilities

• Centre for Clinical Haematology (CFCH)
• National Cancer Centre (NCC)
• Parkway Cancer Centre (PCC)
• Singapore General Hospital

CAR T-Cell Therapy For Multiple Myeloma At CFCH

Centre For Clinical Haematology is one of the top haematology centres in Asia. Its clinics at Mount Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre and Gleneagles Hospital provide CAR T-cell therapy for patients with leukemia and multiple myeloma. The hospital has insurance partners for patients to contact and cover their treatment expenses. Patients who have failed two lines of standard lymphoma treatment are eligible for CAR T-cell therapy.

• Lim Zi Yi – Dr. Yi is a senior consultant with expertise in Haemato-oncology and Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation and CAR T-cell therapy for multiple myeloma. He has over 20 years of experience researching and working at the top hematology centres in London and Singapore.
• Ng Chin Hin – Dr. Hin Leukaemia was the head of the National University Cancer Institute of Singapore. Currently, he works as a senior consultant at CFCH. He has been developing novel blood cancer treatments for over two decades.

Beat Multiple Myeloma With CAR T-Cell Therapy At National Cancer Centre

Leading the way in Southeast Asia for CAR T-cell therapy is Singapore’s National Cancer Center. The center conducts state-of-the-art clinical trials in partnership with preeminent research institutions and universities across the globe. With cutting-edge resources and a multispecialty group of professionals, the National Cancer Center is emerging as a hub for CAR T-cell therapy innovation.

The oncologists involved in CAR T-cell therapy here include:

• Assoc Prof Ravindran Kanesvaran – Dr. Kanesvaran is the chairman and senior consultant at the National Cancer Centre Singapore. He is an award-winning medical oncologist with a special interest in treating cancer through advanced methods like CAR T-cell therapy. He has also been awarded Singhealth Outstanding Faculty Award for his work.
• Assoc Prof Tham Chee Kian – A top medical oncologist, Dr. Kian treats a variety of brain, skin, and stomach malignancies. He is the deputy chairman of the Medical Oncology at the National Cancer Centre Singapore and one of the leading proponents of CAR T-cell therapy.
• Assoc Prof Ang Mei-Kim – Dr. Kiem is a senior consultant of the Medical Oncology department at the National Cancer Centre Singapore. She is involved in many ongoing clinical trials and research related to improving treatment outcomes using CAR T-cell therapy and other approaches.
• Asst Prof Chay Wen Yee – Dr. Yee is a senior medical oncologist at NCC. She is also a visiting consultant of the Department of Gynecological Oncology, KK Women and Children’s Hospital. Dr. Yee is involved in many trial and investigative projects on cancer treatments.

Parkway Cancer Centre For CAR T-Cell Therapy

Parkway Cancer Centre is the first private medical facility in Singapore to offer CAR T-cell therapy. This innovative treatment has proven successful for children and adults whose remission rates range between 60–80% for lymphomas.

PCC started offering CAR T-cell Therapy post-approval from the Singapore Health Sciences Authority (HSA) under a new regulatory framework for Cell, Tissue, and Gene Therapy Products.

Patients are given personalized CAR T-cell therapy, sometimes in combination with allogeneic stem cell transplant for better outcomes at Parkway. The major medical oncologists involved in this treatment at PCC include:

• Ang Peng Tiam – Dr. Tiam is the medical director at PCC. He has three decades of experience in treating various cancers. At Parkway, he is a leading figure associated with CAR T-cell therapy.
• Khoo Kei Siong – He is the senior consultant and deputy medical director at PCC. Dr. Siong is a part of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the European Society of Medical Oncology. He has actively spearheaded ten clinical trials.
• Teo Cheng Peng – Dr. Peng specializes in treating multiple myeloma and stem cell transplants. He even started the Stem Cell Transplant service in the National University Hospital. Currently, he is working on using CAR T-cell therapy for cancer patients at Parkway.
• Dawn Mya Hae – Dr. Hae is the senior consultant and haematologist at Parkway Cancer Centre. She specializes in treating lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and other blood diseases. At Parkway, she has been recognized as one of the top experts on using CAR T-cell therapy for multiple myeloma.

Beating Cancer With CAR T-Cell Therapy At Singapore General Hospital

Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cell therapy is being studied or potentially offered at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH). It is provided in collaboration between Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, and SGH.

Mr. Tan Chee Mun became SGH’s and Singapore’s first patient to get this therapy. The hospital provides this treatment to patients who have already undergone standard treatments for multiple myeloma without success. The key medical oncologists involved in administering this treatment at SGH are:

• Nicholas Grigoropoulos – He is a senior consultant at Singapore General Hospital and specializes in treating lymphoma. He has been working diligently at SGH to treat Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia with CAR T-cell therapy.
• Francesca Lorraine Lim – Dr. Lim is a senior consultant hematologist at Singapore General Hospital. She is the Chief Medical Officer at the Advanced Cell Therapy and Research Institute Singapore (ACTRIS). She has been trained in using CAR T cell therapy under Professor Katy Rezvani at MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Cost Of CAR T-Cell Therapy In Spain

In Spain, CAR T-cell therapy has an estimated cost of $3,21,620. Here’s the estimated price of various aspects of this treatment.

CAR T-Cell Therapy Hospitals And Doctors In Spain

The novel CAR T-cell treatment for multiple myeloma is available in the following hospitals in Spain.

• Hospital Clinic de Barcelona
• Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre in Madrid
• Vall d’Hebron University Hospital in Barcelona

Fighting Cancer Successfully At Hospital Clinic de Barcelona

Hospital Clínic in Barcelona-IDIBAPS has shown the efficacy of the CAR T-cell therapy ARI0002h in treating multiple myeloma patients who are not responding to standard treatments. Patients aged 25 years and older can avail of this treatment.

The ARI-0001 at Hospital Clinic de Barcelona is significantly less expensive than commercially produced CAR T-cell therapies. The therapy has given complete responses in more than 70% of treated patients. The major doctors involved in providing this therapy include;

• Carlos Fernández de Larrea – Dr. Larrea is an award-winning hematologist at the Hospital Clinic. He has been participating actively in clinical trials for multiple myeloma and macroglobulinemia. Dr. Larrea is also supervising the CAR T-cell therapy treatment for multiple myeloma at Hospital Clínic in Barcelona.
• Manel Juan – Dr. Juan is the head of the Immunology Service at the Hospital Clínic. He has been researching deeply on Immunogenetics and immunotherapy. Currently, he is developing CAR T-cell therapy to treat various types of blood cancers like multiple myeloma.

Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre in Madrid For CAR T-Cell Therapy

CAR T-cell therapy is available at Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre in Madrid for the treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Advanced CAR-T therapies for patients who do not respond to chemotherapy or other treatments are also given by the hospital.

On October 12, 2022, this therapy was administered to several patients. They achieved a complete positive response and tested negative for the disease. Patients can use their insurance coverage to pay for this treatment. The wo major oncologists involved in studying and administering this treatment here are:

• Luis Paz-Ares – Dr. Ares is the head of the Medical Oncology Service at Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre in Madrid. He is also a professor at the Faculty of Medicine of the Complutense University of Madrid. Dr. Ares has been recognized by Forbes for his efforts to improve cancer care in Spain.
• Luis Álvarez-Vallina – Dr. Vallina is an oncologist and a member of the Cancer Immunotherapy Unit at Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre. He has been researching CAR T-cell therapy through trials and is a part of the team administering it at this hospital.

CAR T-Cell Therapy At Vall d’Hebron University Hospital in Barcelona

CAR T-cell therapy is a groundbreaking treatment available at Vall d’Hebron University Hospital in Barcelona. The hospital received 2.6 million euros for research into advanced treatments like CAR-T cells. It highlights the hospital’s commitment to advancing innovative treatment modalities.

A novel platform developed by Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO) shows promise in boosting the production of improved CAR T-cell therapy, reducing the production time significantly. Encouraging results in patients with lymphoma have been demonstrated by this platform.

The major doctor involved in CAR T treatment at Vall d’Hebron University Hospital is Dr. Pere Barba.

Dr. Barba is the director of the CAR-T Program at the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital. He has conducted many clinical trials with CAR T-cell therapy on patients with blood cancer and lupus.