In a significant move aimed at providing new hope to blood cancer patients, Oman-based taiba Healthcare Group has announced a strategic investment in Indian startup Immuneel Therapeutics for $12 million.

This strategic investment is intended to advance CAR T-cell research, with a particular focus on making CAR-T cell therapy commercially available at affordable prices and developing the first Phase 2 trial for CD19 CAR-T (IMN-003A) targeting B-cell malignancies, including leukaemia and lymphoma.

CAR (Chimeric Antigen Receptor) T-cell therapy is a cutting-edge treatment pioneered in the United States, primarily used to treat blood cancers. Over the past few years, CAR-T therapies have seen significant growth, and the Indian CAR-T therapy is estimated to cost about one-tenth of comparable commercial products available globally.

“Our aim at taiba is to facilitate access to innovative medicines within developing countries, particularly in the Middle East and Africa. We achieve this through various approaches, including in-licensing such medicines and supporting new treatments within our region. Our focus remains on research and development, especially in the fields of cell and gene therapies”, said Dr Saif Alhasani, CEO, taiba Healthcare Group.