MUMBAI: With a vision to strengthen treatment solutions for Thalassemia patients in the Gujarat region, DKMS Foundation India inaugurated a new Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) Unit in Ahmedabad, today. Designed to meet the growing demand for stem cell transplantations in the region, the new center includes 10 specialized pediatric BMT beds, alongside essential apheresis care facilities and an outpatient center. More than 26 professionals, including four doctors and 14 nurses, will ensure the best possible care for patients. The non-profit organization Sankalp India Foundation operates the new unit with the medical advice support of Cure2Children on the premises of Health1 Super Specialty Hospital, Ahmedabad.

India faces a pressing healthcare challenge: over 12,000 children are born each year with thalassemia, a hereditary blood disorder that causes severe anemia. These children often require lifelong blood transfusions, and without proper treatment, many do not survive beyond the age of 20. Bone marrow transplantation offers the only curative option, but access remains limited due to financial and logistical barriers.

To bridge this gap, DKMS through its Access to Transplantation program has committed 31.15 million Indian rupees (approximately 350,000 euros) to fund the new BMT unit.

“By funding the BMT unit in Ahmedabad, we are bringing lifesaving care closer to home, reducing barriers to treatment, and supporting families who might otherwise have to travel long distances. We dream of giving every child suffering from thalassemia in India a second chance at life – a chance to smile, grow, and embrace the future they deserve,” explains Dr. Elke Neujahr, Global CEO of DKMS.

“Our collaboration with DKMS has transformed the lives of more than 570 children in India since 2018,” says Rajat Kumar Agarwal, President of Sankalp. “With the new and expanded unit in Ahmedabad, where up to 120 children can be treated every year, even more children can be saved and return to a happy life. It represents hope and a brighter future for families facing the challenges of thalassemia.”

It is the second BMT unit in India funded by DKMS, in memory of Mechtild Harf, the late wife of DKMS founder Peter Harf. The first BMT unit in Bangalore, established in 2021 and also operated by Sankalp in collaboration with Cure2Children, has already had a positive impact on more than 460 children with thalassemia.

The inauguration of the new BMT unit represents a significant milestone in the advancement of healthcare in Ahmedabad and the surrounding region. It will not only enhance access to critical treatment but also contribute to the development of expertise in the field of bone marrow transplantation.

A story of hope: Tanvi

The impact of this initiative is best reflected in the story of Tanvi, a young girl diagnosed with thalassemia at just six months old. Born into a family facing daily financial struggles, her father – an auto-rickshaw driver – worked tirelessly to provide for them. For Tanvi, routine blood transfusions became a lifeline, but as the financial burden grew overwhelming, her father desperately sought help.

Thanks to free HLA typing funded by DKMS and facilitated by Sankalp, a genetic match –  and the foundation for a stem cell transplant – was found: Tanvi’s sister, Dhanvi. With renewed hope, the family accessed the BMT procedure at the former Ahmedabad unit, a turning point in Tanvi’s battle against the disease. Today, five years after her transplant, 16-year-old Tanvi is thriving – a joyful child who loves dancing and embraces life with newfound energy.

“I am immensely grateful that my daughter could receive this treatment thanks to DKMS and Sankalp,” shares Tanvi’s father. “Because of them, I can see her smile again. She now has the chance for a long and full life.”

In addition to receiving the transplant, Tanvi’s family benefited from DKMS’s Patient Funding Program, which helped ease the financial strain of the procedure, ensuring she got the care she needed.

The post DKMS Foundation India Launches New 10-Bed BMT Unit in Ahmedabad appeared first on NRI News.

PUNE: Sahyadri Hospitals, one of Maharashtra’s largest hospital chains, proudly announces a ground-breaking commercial collaboration with ImmunoACT to introduce CAR-T cell therapies in Pune. As one of the prominent healthcare facilities, Sahyadri Hospitals, equipped with comprehensive hematology treatment centers, is set to provide access to NexCAR19 (Actalycabtagene autoleucel). This CAR-T cell therapy is designed to treat relapsed or refractory B-cell lymphoma and B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients aged 15 and above.

“The introduction of CAR-T cell therapy marks a significant leap in our commitment to providing cutting-edge care for cancer patients. This innovative approach reflects our continuous endeavor to push the boundaries of cancer treatment, offering patients the most advanced therapeutic options available,” states Abrarali Dalal, Director & CEO of Sahyadri Hospitals. “The integration of CAR-T cell therapy sets a new benchmark in treating complex blood cancers, aligning with our mission to offer the highest standard of precision medicine. This launch places Sahyadri Hospitals at the frontline of innovative treatments for blood disorders, promising to significantly improve the lives of patients in Pune and Maharashtra.”

Commonly known as “living drugs,” these personalized therapies are manufactured by genetically modifying a patient’s T-cells using a viral vector, specifically targeting certain types of cancer cells. NexCAR19, the first CAR-T therapy fully developed and manufactured in India, is now among approximately ten such therapies available commercially worldwide. While similar therapies can cost several hundred thousand dollars in the United States, it is planned to be offered at almost one-tenth of this cost.

Outcomes in B-cell cancers, where one or more lines of treatment have failed, are generally dismal. Sahyadri’s medical and haemato-oncologists intend to deploy NexCAR19 to enhance the standard of care, which currently includes chemotherapy, monoclonal antibodies, and bone marrow transplant. NexCAR19 will be initially available at Sahyadri’s Deccan Gymkhana center in Pune, serving patients across western India and beyond.

Dr. Shashikant Apte, M.D., FRCPA, Head of the Department of Haematology & Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at Sahyadri Hospitals, stated, “At Sahyadri Hospitals, we treat patients from various backgrounds, conducting approximately 45-50 bone marrow transplants annually. With the availability of NexCAR19, we now have a significant opportunity to improve outcomes and the quality of life for patients with B-cell malignancies. We hope that similar cell therapies will soon be accessible for other forms of hematological cancers, addressing a critically unmet need.”

Shirish Arya, Co-Founder and Director of Business Development & Corporate Strategy at ImmunoACT commented, “Sahyadri Hospitals’ cutting-edge infrastructure and their clinically forward-thinking oncologists will receive our full support to ensure the immediate and affordable availability of NexCAR19 to patients. Our efforts at ImmunoACT, driven by innovation in research, are also focused on enhancing the scalability of our robust CAR-T platform to extend the benefits of this life-saving therapy to as many patients as possible.”

The post Sahyadri Hospitals and ImmunoACT Forge a Milestone Partnership, Introducing Advanced CAR-T Cell Therapies in Pune appeared first on NRI News.