NKure Therapeutics and CRISPR Therapeutics partner to develop off-the-shelf CAR T therapy CTX112 in India

 Bengaluru-based cell and gene therapy startup NKure Therapeutics and gene-based medicine company CRISPR Therapeutics have announced a strategic partnership to co-develop and co-commercialise CTX112, an allogeneic CAR T therapy, for oncology indications in India.

The partnership is aimed at expanding access to CAR T therapies for patients with B-cell malignancies, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and other non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas. India sees over 41,000 new cases of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma each year. Despite the recent approval of autologous CAR T therapies in the country, treatment remains limited due to high costs and lengthy manufacturing timelines.

CTX112 is being developed as an off-the-shelf alternative that uses healthy donor cells gene-edited with CRISPR/Cas9 technology. This approach enables large-scale manufacturing and quicker delivery, removing the need for patient-specific cell modification.

Lalit Pai, Chief Executive Officer of NKure Therapeutics, said, “We are thrilled to partner with CRISPR Therapeutics to bring CTX112 to India. India faces a pressing need for advanced yet affordable cancer treatments. This partnership represents a unique opportunity to introduce a next-generation CAR T therapy that is both cost-effective and readily available, ensuring more patients can access life-saving treatments without long delays.”

Naimish Patel, M.D., Chief Medical Officer at CRISPR Therapeutics, added, “We are excited to collaborate with NKure to expand the reach of CTX112 to India, where there is a clear need for new treatment options for patients with B-cell malignancies. This partnership underscores our commitment to advancing gene-based therapies and providing patients with access to potentially life-changing treatments worldwide.”

CTX112 targets CD19 and is intended for use in adult patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell malignancies who have undergone at least two prior lines of therapy. The gene edits introduced via CRISPR/Cas9 are designed to improve the treatment’s durability by addressing immune evasion, cell persistence, and cell exhaustion.

Clinical trials for CTX112 are ongoing to evaluate its safety and efficacy. In India, where access to CAR T therapy remains limited, the collaboration aims to align with local healthcare needs and accelerate the pathway to regulatory approval and patient availability.

The co-development strategy reflects a shared goal to provide more accessible treatment options for cancer patients by leveraging NKure’s local expertise and CRISPR Therapeutics’ gene-editing platform.