Kotak Alts Backs Indian Biotech Startup Cellogen Therapeutics

Indian biotechnology startup Cellogen Therapeutics has secured Rs 20 crore (approximately $2.3 million) in funding from Kotak Alternate Asset Managers to accelerate the development of advanced cancer and gene therapies.

The investment was made through Kotak Life Sciences Fund I, which focuses on supporting early-stage and growth-stage healthcare and biotechnology ventures in India.

The fresh funding will help Cellogen advance its CAR-T clinical programmes, expand its gene therapy pipeline, and strengthen manufacturing and regulatory capabilities as it moves toward human clinical trials.

Developing Next-Generation CAR-T Therapies

Founded in 2021, Cellogen Therapeutics is led by Gaurav Kharya and Tanveer Ahmad.

The company specializes in developing cell and gene therapies using Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) technology, one of the most advanced cancer treatment approaches globally. CAR-T therapies work by modifying a patient’s immune cells to identify and destroy cancer cells more effectively.

Cellogen is currently developing therapies for cancers and blood disorders while also building early-stage programmes targeting 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. According to the startup, this approach could significantly reduce the risk of cancer relapse compared to conventional CAR-T treatments.

The company is preparing for Phase I human clinical trials in partnership with Christian Medical College Vellore, subject to regulatory approvals.

Making Advanced Cancer Treatment More Affordable

Globally, CAR-T therapies are considered highly effective but remain extremely expensive, often costing between $500,000 and $700,000 per patient.

Cellogen Therapeutics aims to dramatically reduce these costs and make advanced therapies more accessible in India and other emerging markets. The startup estimates its therapies could potentially be priced between $60,000 and $70,000, making treatment significantly more affordable for patients.

According to Ashish Ranjan, India faces a high burden of blood cancers and genetic disorders, yet access to advanced therapies remains limited due to cost barriers.

He noted that Cellogen’s indigenous and intellectual property-driven platform, combined with next-generation science, has the potential to create scalable and affordable cancer treatment solutions from India.

Strengthening India’s Biotechnology Ecosystem

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

The startup has already secured a patent for its CAR-T platform and previously received investment from Natco Pharma, which acquired a minority stake in the company.

India’s biotechnology sector has seen rapid growth in recent years, with more than 11,000 biotech startups currently operating across the country. Government initiatives like the Biopharma SHAKTI scheme announced in the Union Budget are also expected to further strengthen research and innovation in the sector.

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