Immuneel Therapeutics has announced a strategic partnership with Arogya Finance to launch India’s first Zero Cost EMI programme of up to ₹25 lakh for eligible patients receiving Qartemi (varnimcabtagene autoleucel), the company’s CD19-directed autologous CAR-T cell therapy for relapsed or refractory B‑cell malignancies. The initiative is being rolled out under Immuneel’s Saksham Patient Access Program and is designed to ensure that patients can initiate treatment without arranging the entire cost upfront, with interest-free EMIs available for up to 12 months, subject to credit assessment and lender approval.
The collaboration aims to address one of the biggest barriers to advanced cancer care in India: timely affordability. Under the partnership, Arogya Finance will independently provide financing to eligible patients, handling loan approval, disbursement and servicing, while Immuneel focuses on delivering world-class CAR‑T therapy. “Innovation in healthcare is meaningful only when patients can access it. While tremendous progress has been made in developing advanced cellular therapies, affordability remains a significant challenge for many families. Through this partnership with Arogya Finance, we are addressing a critical unmet need by helping eligible patients access Qartemi without the burden of arranging the entire treatment cost upfront. This is another important step towards making advanced cancer care more accessible in India,” said Amit Mookim, CEO- Immuneel Therapeutics.
Qartemi is offered to patients with relapsed or refractory B‑cell malignancies who have exhausted conventional treatment options and are often racing against time to begin CAR‑T therapy. To streamline access, every patient first undergoes a comprehensive medical evaluation by Immuneel’s Medical Affairs team to confirm eligibility, after which those who qualify are guided through the Saksham Desk for dedicated financial counselling and support with the loan application process. Once documentation is submitted, Arogya Finance independently evaluates each case to enable rapid decision-making so that treatment planning is not delayed by financial bottlenecks.
Commenting on the collaboration, Jose Peter, Co‑founder and CEO, Arogya Finance, said: “At Arogya Finance, we believe that access to quality healthcare should not be limited by immediate financial constraints. We are proud to partner with Immuneel to introduce an innovative financing solution that enables eligible patients to access one of the most advanced cancer therapies available today while easing the financial burden on their families.” He noted that the zero cost EMI structure builds on Arogya’s experience in providing medical loans to patients who often fall outside the traditional banking system, using alternative risk assessment tools to extend credit quickly and with minimal collateral requirements.
Immuneel describes the Zero Cost EMI initiative as an important extension of its broader mission to democratise access to advanced cellular therapies through scientific excellence, affordability and patient-centric care. By combining cutting-edge CAR‑T technology such as Qartemi with innovative access solutions, the company aims to ensure that eligible patients can receive potentially life-saving treatment at the right time, rather than being delayed by funding constraints. As India strengthens its capabilities in cell and gene therapies, models like the Saksham Patient Access Program are expected to play a growing role in turning medical innovation into meaningful outcomes for patients and their families.
