Immunotherapy Cost in India

Are you searching for top cancer care hospitals in India that offer high-quality, affordable immunotherapy? BMCHRC is a trusted choice for the best immunotherapy in India.

India is home to highly experienced oncologists who hold distinguished expertise in immunotherapies with high success rates. Also, many cancer care facilities in India offer immunotherapies at significantly more affordable costs. This makes India the most favorable option for cost-effective immunotherapy without any compromise on the quality of care or patient safety. In the following article, let’s thoroughly explore the immunotherapy cost in India.

Why Choose BMCHRC for Immunotherapy in India?

BMCHRC (Bhagwan Mahaveer Cancer Hospital & Research Centre) is one of the top hospitals in India for immunotherapy. BMCHRC was established in the year 1997 as a cancer specialty hospital offering cancer prevention, treatment, education, and research. It is an NABH- and NABL-accredited super-specialty cancer center that provides personalized care for various types of cancers.

The hospital has surgical oncology, medical oncology, radiation oncology, hematology oncology, anesthesiology, neuro-oncology surgery, geriatric oncology, radiology, plastic & reconstructive surgery, nuclear medicine, pathology departments, and a blood bank equipped with advanced equipment and cutting-edge facilities.

The hospital has grown from a 50-bed facility into a 300-bed cancer specialty institution serving patients across Rajasthan and neighboring regions, and it offers supportive services such as affordable care, free or subsidized treatment for eligible patients, and holistic support programs.

What is Immunotherapy?

Our immune system's goal is to protect us from agents that can potentially cause allergies, infections, and cancer. Therefore, our immune cells actively and constantly scan our body and destroy any agents that can pose a threat to our health. But cancer is the most unpredictable cell disorder, which is characterized by unchecked cell multiplication and can potentially bypass the immune reactions of our body.

Immunotherapy is a cancer treatment that strengthens your immune system, making it more effective in combating cancer. It has the potential to unlock the immune system's maximum potential, making it more effective than cancer drugs in fighting cancer cells. To recognize and eliminate cancer cells efficiently, it stimulates our body to produce more cancer-fighting immune cells. The ultimate objective is to target only cancer cells and spare healthy cells. 

It is a highly effective and very promising cancer treatment modality that can be used independently or in conjunction with other targeted therapies, such as radiation, surgery, chemotherapy, or other procedures, for treating specific types of cancers. This therapy has shown favorable results in treating cancers (especially lung cancer and melanoma), even in advanced stages.

This cancer therapy is superior to other conventional cancer treatment modalities in many aspects. Radiation and chemotherapy destroy cancerous cells along with the surrounding healthier ones, whereas immunotherapy targets only cancer cells. Unlike other conventional therapies, prolonging the administration of immunotherapy can help in long-term cancer management and relapse prevention in numerous instances.

Types of Immunotherapies in India

The following are the types of immunotherapies:

Type of Immunotherapy	Sub-types	Short Description
Checkpoint Inhibitors	PD-1, PD-L1, CTLA-4 inhibitors	Immune checks are modulated, and T cells are enabled to continue attacking cancer cells.
Adoptive Cell Therapy (T-cell Transfer Therapy)	CAR T-cell therapy	The patient’s T cells are genetically modified to better recognize and destroy cancer cells.
	Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) therapy	Selected cancer-fighting T cells from the tumor are extracted, multiplied, and reinfused to strengthen the immune attack.
Monoclonal Antibody Therapy	Naked monoclonal antibodies	Bind to cancer cells and block growth signals or mark them for immune destruction.
	Conjugated monoclonal antibodies	Deliver toxic substances directly to cancer cells.
Cancer Vaccines	Therapeutic cancer vaccines	Train the immune system to recognize and attack existing cancer cells.
Immune System Modulators (Immunomodulators)	Cytokines	Enhance immune cell communication and trigger cancer cell death.
	BCG immunotherapy	Stimulates immune response against bladder cancer after surgery.
	Immunomodulatory drugs	Strengthen immune activity and may limit blood supply to tumors.

Drug-Wise Cost Range of Immunotherapy in India

The following information gives detailed insight into the drug-wise cost range of immunotherapy in India:

Type of Immunotherapy	Immunotherapy Cost Per Dose (INR)	Immunotherapy Cost Per Dose (USD)	Treatment Frequency
Checkpoint Inhibitors	₹2,500 – ₹1,50,000	~$30 – ~$1,800	Given in treatment cycles
CAR T-Cell Therapy	₹30,00,000 – ₹60,00,000	~$36,000 – ~$72,000	Usually given as a single session
Monoclonal Antibodies	₹1,50,000 – ₹4,00,000	~$1,800 – ~$4,800	Given in treatment cycles
Cancer Vaccines	₹50,000 – ₹2,00,000	~$600 – ~$2,400	Given in multiple doses or cycles
Cytokine Therapy	₹50,000 – ₹2,00,000	~$600 – ~$2,400	Given per dose or in cycles
Immunomodulators	₹1,00,000 – ₹3,00,000	~$1,200 – ~$3,600	Given in cycles, often with other therapies
Targeted Antibody Therapy	₹1,50,000 – ₹5,00,000	~$1,800 – ~$6,000	Given in treatment cycles

Eligibility Criteria for Immunotherapy in India

Your cancer care team will determine whether immunotherapy is suitable for you based on your cancer type, overall health, and response to previous treatments. A patient may be considered eligible for immunotherapy if:

• It is recommended as a primary (frontline) treatment or in combination with therapies such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or radiation.
• Diagnostic tests confirm that the cancer has specific biological markers or features known to respond well to immunotherapy.
• The stage and extent of the cancer make immunotherapy a clinically appropriate option.
• The patient’s immune system is strong enough to tolerate and respond to treatment.
• Previous treatments have either failed to achieve the desired outcome, or immunotherapy provides a greater therapeutic benefit.
• There are no active autoimmune diseases or conditions that could worsen with immune-based therapy.

Response & Recovery With Immunotherapy in India

Immunotherapy has significantly improved survival rates in a number of advanced cancers, providing lasting remission or long-term control in managing cases that were previously proven incurable with other modalities. 

While immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment landscape of certain cancers, it also exposes the patient to certain side effects known as immune-related adverse events (irAEs). These adverse effects occur when the immune system becomes overactive and mistakenly targets healthy tissues. Many side effects can be treated and reversed, but finding them early and getting the right care is essential to avoid long-term effects and improve quality of life. Fatigue is one of the most commonly reported side effects, ranging from mild tiredness to severe exhaustion that interferes with everyday tasks. Some immunotherapies have been linked to gut issues such as diarrhea, stomach pain, and intestinal swelling. Skin reactions are also prevalent, including redness, itching, dryness, and vitiligo. 

Some immunotherapies can lead to delayed reactions or misleading signs of tumor growth (where tumors seem to get bigger before actually shrinking), highlighting the need for careful monitoring. Increasing quality of life during and after immunotherapy requires not just symptom management but also psychological and social support. 

Regular follow-up and monitoring enable doctors to detect cancer recurrence early, manage late-onset immune-related adverse effects, and assess overall health and quality of life.

Get personalized advice on immunotherapy from the top immunotherapy specialists of India at the BMCHRC. Book your consultation today.

FAQs

Q1: In what aspects does BMCHRC stand as a trusted immunotherapy center in India?
A: BMCHRC, an NABH- and NABL-accredited facility, provides high expertise, advanced infrastructure, and patient-focused treatment planning to support the excellent treatment outcomes. 

Q2: How does BMCHRC support effective immunotherapy care?
A: The expert immunotherapists at BMCHRC advise this precision medicine only to the right candidates. The care is well supported by advanced oncology departments, cutting-edge in-house diagnostics, blood bank services, day-care units, and multidisciplinary cancer care support.

Q3: Can I find expert immunotherapists at BMCHRC?
A: Our highly trained medical oncologists, specialized in immunotherapy, have distinguished experience in successfully administering immunotherapy and managing associated complications.

Q4: What is the success rate of immunotherapy at BMCHRC?
A: Our expert delivers favorable immunotherapy results by focusing on the effectiveness of the right drug for the selected patient and providing thorough follow-up care.