SunAct inks deal with Malaysian firm Abgentil to introduce cutting-edge cancer treatment in India

New Delhi: Continuing with their endeavour to bring the most advanced and cutting-edge cancer treatment to India at an affordable cost, the Thane based SunAct Cancer Institute, has signed an agreement with Malaysian pioneers Abgentil Biomedical SDN BHD, to introduce CAR-T, TCR and TIL therapies for solid state tumours in the country.

The deal was formally inked in Thane on November 26, 2024 at the SunAct premises by founder and oncologist Dr. Vijay Patil and Ms. Loh Hui Pin, Managing Director, Abgentil Biomedical SDN BHD.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Patil said, “We are extremely happy that within a very short time of our inception, we have been able to bring this revolutionary cancer treatment for solid state tumours to India. We also thank Ms. Loh for taking her precious time out to come to India for this historic moment in a way. Abgentil is a pioneer in the field of CAR-T, TCR, TIL and other innovative cancer therapies and this will give a lot of patients and their care-givers a lot of hope.”

Also sharing her thoughts was Ms. Hui Pin saying, “I am proud that we at Abgentil could help Dr. Patil and SunAct bring this latest breakthrough treatment for solid state malignancies to India. Dr. Patil and his team are extremely knowledgeable and passionate in their mission to eradicate the scourge of cancer from India and the world and we are confident that this partnership will do wonders for patients, particularly in India.

Further explaining the significance of the agreement Dr. Patil said, “Research indicates that most cancers diagnosed in the country are solid tumours, including head and neck cancers, breast cancer, and lung cancer. Tragically, many patients present with these cancers at advanced stages. This late detection means that despite employing surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, numerous cases still face treatment failure. In situations where standard-approved therapies do not yield results, it is imperative that we consider alternative and innovative treatment options. Adoptive cellular therapies, such as CAR-T, TCR, and TIL, represent a beacon of hope. For example, TIL therapy has gained FDA approval for melanoma and demonstrated impressive efficacy, and TCR therapies have recently been authorized for sarcoma treatment after chemotherapy has failed. Yet, access to these ground-breaking adoptive therapies remains a significant challenge in India. At SunACT Cancer Institute, we are committed to changing this narrative.”

The Thane clinic, which was the first and only in the country to offer the latest CAR-T Cell Therapy and TCR for solid tumours will now add another feather to its cap with respect to the most advanced cancer treatment in India.

SunAct Cancer Institute’s ongoing commitment to enhancing cancer care accessibility and delivering innovative treatment options will soon be available in various cities in India with such centres coming up in Khar / Bandra (Mumbai) over the next year and in the cities of Pune, Delhi/NCR, Bangalore, and other metro cities over the next five years.

In the battle against cancer, CAR-T cell therapy has emerged as a groundbreaking treatment option, offering new hope to patients facing advanced and difficult-to-treat malignancies.