Bengaluru-based biotech startup NKure Therapeutics has partnered with CRISPR Therapeutics to co-develop and co-commercialize CTX112, an allogeneic CAR T-cell therapy, specifically for oncology treatment in India. This collaboration focuses on improving access to advanced cancer treatments for B-cell malignancies, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and other non-Hodgkin lymphomas—conditions that see over 41,000 new cases annually in India.

Although autologous CAR T-cell therapies have recently been approved in India, their high costs and complex manufacturing have limited widespread use. CTX112, however, offers an off-the-shelf alternative that uses healthy donor cells modified using CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology. This method allows for scalable production and faster delivery, eliminating the need for patient-specific cell processing.

Lalit Pai, CEO of NKure, highlighted that this partnership could bring cost-effective, next-generation cancer therapies to more Indian patients, reducing wait times and increasing availability. Dr. Naimish Patel, CMO at CRISPR Therapeutics, emphasized the global importance of expanding access to gene-based treatments.

CTX112 is designed to target CD19 in adult patients with relapsed or treatment-resistant B-cell malignancies who have already received two prior therapies. The therapy includes genetic modifications to enhance immune response, cell persistence, and reduce exhaustion.

With clinical trials underway, the partnership aims to accelerate regulatory approval and market entry in India. By combining NKure’s local insights with CRISPR Therapeutics’ advanced platform, the collaboration strives to make life-saving cancer treatments more accessible and affordable across the country.