Cellogen Therapeutics raises Rs 20 crore from Kotak Alts to advance CAR-T cancer therapies

Indian biotech startup Cellogen Therapeutics has secured Rs 20 crore (about $2.3 million) in funding from Kotak Alternate Asset Managers to advance its cancer and gene therapy programmes.

The investment was made through Kotak Life Sciences Fund I (KLSF-I), which backs early- and growth-stage healthcare and life sciences ventures.

Established in 2021, Cellogen Therapeutics is led by Gaurav Kharya and Tanveer Ahmad. It develops cell and gene therapies using Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) technology to treat cancers and blood disorders.

The fresh funding will be used to advance its CAR-T clinical programmes, expand its gene therapy pipeline and strengthen its manufacturing and regulatory capabilities, the startup said.

Cellogen is also developing early-stage programmes for beta thalassemia and sickle cell disease.

Its lead product is a bispecific, dual-antigen CAR-T therapy designed to target two cancer markers instead of one, an approach the startup said could reduce relapse risk compared with existing CAR-T therapies.

The startup is preparing for Phase I human clinical trials, subject to regulatory approval, in collaboration with Christian Medical College Vellore.

CAR-T therapies are among the most advanced cancer treatments available globally, but their high cost has limited access for many patients. Existing therapies can cost between $500,000 and $700,000, while Cellogen said it aims to reduce prices to between $60,000 and $70,000.

“India carries a high burden of blood cancers and genetic  blood disorders, yet access to advanced therapies such as CAR‑T and gene therapy remains  limited, largely due to cost. Cellogen is working to address this gap through an indigenous, IP‑led  platform that brings together next‑generation science and cost‑efficient development. Its  bispecific CAR‑T program places the company among a small group working on advanced  multi‑targeted CAR‑T approaches globally. We see the potential for meaningful clinical impact  and for building scalable, affordable cell and gene therapy capabilities from India,” said Ashish Ranjan, Director of Kotak Alts.

Dr. Gaurav Kharya, Co‑Founder, Cellogen Therapeutics, said, “Cell and gene therapies have the  potential to fundamentally change how many diseases are treated. However, challenges around  cost, scalability, and access continue to limit their adoption. With the support of partners like  NATCO and Kotak Alts, we are focused on building therapies that are innovative, cost‑effective,  and practical to scale for wider patient access.”

“Our AI‑driven platforms are  central to how we design and develop cell and gene therapies. This partnership gives us the  opportunity to scale these efforts and move more decisively toward next‑generation approaches,  including in vivo CAR‑T therapies,” said Dr. Tanveer Ahmad, Co‑Founder of Cellogen Therapeutics.

Cellogen operates a GMP-compliant manufacturing facility in Noida with in-house CAR design and lentiviral vector manufacturing capabilities.

The startup had earlier received a patent for its CAR-T platform and counts Natco Pharma among its investors after the drugmaker acquired a 5.38% stake for a little over Rs 15 crore.

India’s biotechnology sector has expanded rapidly in recent years, with more than 11,000 biotech startups now operating in the country.

Earlier this year, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the Biopharma SHAKTI scheme in the Union Budget to support research, manufacturing and innovation in the sector.