Bharat Biotech arm Nucelion partners with VeGen Bio on CAR-T therapy

Nucelion Therapeutics, a Bharat Biotech subsidiary, has partnered with VeGen Bio to manufacture VL-2511, a dual-target CAR-T therapy for multiple myeloma. The collaboration will focus on technology transfer, manufacturing scale-up and cost optimisation to support wider access in India.

Hyderabad: Nucelion Therapeutics, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech and a specialised cell and gene therapy CRDMO, on Wednesday announced a strategic partnership with precision oncology firm VeGen Bio. The collaboration focuses on technology transfer, clinical manufacturing, and commercial production of innovative cell therapies in India.

Under the agreement, Nucelion will serve as the exclusive manufacturing partner for VeGen Bio’s lead candidate, VL-2511, at its single-site GMP facility designed to meet CDSCO, US FDA, and EMA regulatory standards. VL-2511 is a Phase II clinical-stage, first-in-class dual BCMA/CD19 autologous CAR-T therapy for multiple myeloma.

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Designed to counter antigen escape, VL-2511 has shown promising clinical activity, particularly in patients with extramedullary disease. The partnership aims to streamline process development, scale up manufacturing yields, and optimise production economics to significantly reduce treatment costs and improve patient access across India, the press release said.

Nucelion’s end-to-end technical scope encompasses analytical testing, GMP cell processing, vector-enabled transduction, cryopreservation, and rigorous quality control.

“Our work on VeGen’s dual-target CAR-T programme builds the capacity India needs to bring these therapies to more patients,” said Dr Raghu Malapaka, CBO of Nucelion.

Prashant Bhavar, Director of VeGen Bio, added that the collaboration establishes a vital end-to-end domestic ecosystem for next-generation treatments.