Immuneel Therapeutics, an Indian biotech firm specializing in cell and gene therapies for blood cancers, announced a ₹100 crore Series B fundraise aimed at scaling production and global expansion across Asia Pacific and the Middle East.
- Raised ₹100 Cr Series B funding primarily for expanding GMP manufacturing and clinical pipeline.
- Commercial launch of Qartemi CAR-T therapy in India with plans to treat lymphoma and leukemia.
- Focus on global expansion in Asia Pacific, Middle East, and other emerging markets.
What happened
Immuneel Therapeutics, a Bengaluru-based biotech startup founded in 2018, announced a ₹100 crore Series B funding round led by Singularity AMC and Rainmatter by Zerodha, with participation from notable investors such as Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and Eight Roads Ventures. The fresh capital will be deployed to significantly increase the company’s GMP manufacturing capacity and support the commercialisation of its CAR-T therapy, Qartemi, which is approved for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in India.
The funding will also fuel Immuneel’s efforts to advance its next-generation cell and gene therapy programs while expanding its geographical footprint across high-growth emerging markets including Asia Pacific and the Middle East. The company has already commenced treating lymphoma patients in India and plans to soon begin treating leukemia, with ongoing research aimed at extending therapies to solid tumors.
Why it matters
Immuneel Therapeutics is positioning itself to address the global challenge of expensive and inaccessible CAR-T therapies. In Western markets, such treatments cost between $400,000 and $500,000 per patient, limiting accessibility. Immuneel aims to offer similar cutting-edge therapies at under 10% of these prices, leveraging scalable manufacturing and local expertise to lower costs without compromising innovation or efficacy.
With over 100 patients treated since late 2024, Immuneel is pioneering affordable gene therapies in India and targeting regions such as the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia where advanced cancer treatments are often unavailable. The company’s approach has the potential to democratize access to lifesaving therapies and place India at the forefront of cell and gene therapy innovation.
What to watch next
Investors and industry watchers will be closely observing Immuneel’s ability to scale manufacturing and successfully commercialize Qartemi beyond Indian borders, particularly in emerging markets with unmet demand. The progress of clinical co-development partnerships in Australia and Southeast Asia will be key indicators of its global ambitions and capabilities.
Additionally, attention will focus on Immuneel’s next-gen pipeline including potential expansions into solid tumor therapies. The company’s strategic moves to lower CAR-T therapy costs while maintaining high standards could challenge the global market and inspire further innovation and competition within the gene therapy sector.