From Jammu to Dubai, Hitesh Goswami’s precision oncology crusade is making genomic testing 60 per cent cheaper – and uncovering life-saving mutations in 1 of every 3 patients. An IndiaMedToday exclusive with the man decoding cancer for the Global South.
A New Dawn in Cancer Care
Cancer. The word alone sends shivers down spines, conjuring images of endless hospital visits, grueling treatments and uncertain outcomes. In India, where over 1.3 million new cases emerge each year, the fight against this relentless disease has long been hampered by limited access to cutting-edge solutions. Traditional treatments like chemotherapy and radiation, while sometimes effective, often feel like blunt instruments attacking both cancer and the body with equal ferocity. But a quiet revolution is brewing, one that promises to transform this battlefield with precision and hope.
Enter precision oncology – a science that tailors treatments to the unique genetic makeup of a patient’s tumor, offering a sharper, smarter weapon against cancer. Yet, for too long, this promise remained out of reach for most Indians, locked behind sky-high costs and data that didn’t reflect the country’s diverse population. That is, until 4baseCare stepped onto the scene. Founded in 2018 by Hitesh Goswami and Kshitij Rishi, this trailblazing company is tearing down barriers, making genomic testing not just accessible but relevant to India and beyond. From groundbreaking tests to international expansions and partnerships with giants like AIIMS Jammu, 4baseCare is rewriting the rules of cancer care and it’s only just begun.
“We wanted to use DNA technology to solve cancer,” Hitesh Goswami says with a conviction that echoes through his journey. And solve it they are, one patient, one mutation, one story at a time.
The Spark of a Vision
Hitesh Goswami’s path to 4baseCare wasn’t a straight line; it was a winding road paved with curiosity, science and a relentless drive to make a difference. It all started back in 2005 at Piramal Life Sciences in Mumbai, where a young Hitesh, fresh out of college, met Kshitij Rishi, his future co-founder. Both were thrust into the exhilarating world of research Hitesh screening molecules for anti-cancer properties, Kshitij exploring cancer vaccines. “We were both very passionate about science from those times itself, and that’s what ignited our friendship,” Hitesh recalls, a hint of nostalgia in his voice.
But the seeds of his passion were planted even earlier, during his master’s at Sophia College. There, Hitesh earned the rare Lady Tata Memorial Trust Scholarship, a gateway to presenting his research alongside PhDs at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR). “That’s where the research bug bit me,” he admits. “Standing there as a master’s student among PhDs, it was a defining moment.”
From Piramal, Hitesh’s fascination with DNA sequencing pulled him to Bangalore, where he joined a genomics company working with researchers from IISc, JNU, and beyond. Projects ranged from rice genomics to tuberculosis, but cancer always stood out. In 2010, he founded Bionivid Technology, a venture focused on analyzing the flood of genomic data pouring in as sequencing costs plummeted. “Cancer was always very exciting when it came to looking at the data,” he says. “We could see the direct clinical implications.”
By 2018, Hitesh and Kshitij, now armed with years of experience and a shared vision, saw a glaring gap in India’s cancer care. Genomic solutions were exorbitant, often outsourced to the U.S., and built on Caucasian data that didn’t match India’s genetic diversity. “Imagine providing COVID testing based on the UK variant,” Hitesh explains. “The sensitivity wouldn’t be the same. We needed solutions for our population.” Thus, 4baseCare was born, its name a nod to the four bases of DNA—A, T, G and C—the “letters of life” that define us all.
Cracking the Code: The TARGT Indigene Test
At the heart of 4baseCare’s mission lies the TARGT Indigene test, a game-changer in precision oncology. While most tests relied on foreign data, Hitesh and his team set out to build something uniquely Indian. Partnering with leading hospitals like Tata Memorial and Shankara, they analyzed tumor tissues from 1500 Indian patients across 28 cancer types, studying all 20,000 genes to pinpoint the mutations driving cancer in this population.
“We identified around 1200 genes that are frequently mutated,” Hitesh explains. “Then we made a kit to study those genes.” The result? A test that’s not only more accurate for Indians but also slashes costs offered at under 1 lakh rupees compared to competitors’ 1.8 to 2.5 lakhs. Through a partnership with AIIMS Jammu, it’s available for an astonishing Rs 48,000. “It’s about making it affordable,” he says.
This isn’t just a test, it’s a lifeline. By mapping mutations specific to Indian patients, doctors can now pinpoint targeted therapies with unprecedented precision, turning vague hopes into concrete plans. Selected by Illumina’s accelerator program in 2019 the first Asia-Pacific company in its 10th cycle 4baseCare rejected off-the-shelf kits to forge its own path. “We said, ‘We don’t want to use your kit. We want to see what’s driving cancer in our patients,’” Hitesh recalls. The gamble paid off.
Beyond Borders: Dubai and the Philippines
4baseCare’s ambitions don’t stop at India’s borders. With labs now in Dubai and the Philippines, the company is tackling a global data gap in precision medicine. “In the Middle East, Asia, India we contribute to more than 50% of new cancer diagnoses every year,” Hitesh notes. “But the data is scarce.” These regions, home to 10 million of the world’s 18-20 million annual cancer cases, have been underserved by solutions built on Western profiles.
Dubai, a strategic hub, serves the Middle East, Latin America, Iran, Turkey, and Uzbekistan. “Samples reach us within 48 hours,” Hitesh says, emphasizing the logistical edge that speeds up life-saving reports. In the Philippines, 4baseCare has established the country’s first clinical genomics lab, addressing 250,000 new cases annually and serving Southeast Asia. “Personalization has to start from the region,” he insists. “You can’t extrapolate other region’s data.”
These expansions aren’t just about growth, they’re about diversity. By collecting local data, 4baseCare is crafting solutions that resonate with the people they serve, bridging a gap that’s left millions in the dark.
A Partnership for the People: AIIMS Jammu
Closer to home, 4baseCare’s collaboration with AIIMS Jammu is a masterstroke in accessibility. Setting up a Centre for Genomics and Precision Medicine, they’re bringing advanced testing to Jammu-Kashmir, a region where such technology was once a distant dream. “The patients AIIMS caters to don’t get this easily,” Hitesh says. “This allows us to work closely with them.”
The numbers tell the story: a test that costs 1 lakh rupees elsewhere drops to 48,000 rupees here, thanks to smart pricing and subsidies. It’s a model of public-private partnership that could redefine healthcare equity. “We’re not just providing tests,” Hitesh adds. “We’re learning from each patient to improve our solutions.”
LuNGS Alliance: Free Testing, Real Impact
Perhaps nothing embodies 4baseCare’s mission more than the LuNGS Alliance. Spearheaded by Dr. Kumar Prabhash of Tata Memorial Hospital and funded by pharma giants like Roche and Pfizer, this initiative offers free genomic testing for lung cancer patients. In just two months, 4baseCare has conducted 1000 tests compared to 2400 paid tests over three years. “Eighty percent of these patients wouldn’t have access without this,” Hitesh marvels.
The impact is staggering: 60% of patients show mutations with available therapies, giving doctors clear paths to better outcomes. Tier 2 and 3 cities like Jaipur and Coimbatore, and government hospitals, are now in the fold. “Top 10 hospitals giving these tests are government hospitals,” Hitesh says proudly. “Every cancer has a story, and we want to give it a voice.”
Quality You Can Trust: CAP Accreditation
In Dubai, 4baseCare’s lab recently earned CAP accreditation, a global gold standard from the College of American Pathology. “These are clinical samples,” Hitesh stresses. “Decisions are made based on these reports. We cannot afford mistakes.” This seal of approval ensures patients and doctors can trust the results, a cornerstone of the company’s international credibility.
Fueling the Future: Series A Funding
A recent Series A funding round has supercharged 4baseCare’s vision. With 7-8 crores invested in the AIIMS Jammu lab alone, plus new facilities in Nepal, the Philippines, and Dubai, the company is scaling fast. “We’re investing heavily in R&D,” Hitesh says, “developing novel solutions and AI-based tools to generate insights from real-world data.”
The goal? A “loop of learning” where a patient in Manila benefits from insights gained in Mangalore. With a team now exceeding 220, 4baseCare is assembling the brightest minds to push this frontier forward.
The Affordability Challenge
Cancer care’s biggest hurdle remains cost not just for testing, but for treatment. “The test is expensive, but treatment is even more so,” Hitesh laments. Targeted therapies, often uncovered by insurance, can be out of reach even when a mutation is found. He recounts a survivor’s story of a non-smoking mother whose treatment worked, but only because she could afford it. “Many patients aren’t that fortunate,” he says.
4baseCare is fighting back. Beyond subsidizing tests through LuNGS and AIIMS, they’re partnering with NGOs, CSR funds, and the government to ease treatment costs. Hitesh also sees clinical trials as a game-changer. “The only way many patients get free treatment is through trials,” he argues. “We want pharma companies to come to India. There are so many patients who need this.”
A Vision Unfolding
4baseCare isn’t just a company, it’s a movement. From the TARGT™ Indiegene test to global labs and free testing initiatives, Hitesh Goswami and his team are proving that precision oncology isn’t a luxury, it’s a right. “We want to ensure every cancer patient has access to the best care, regardless of where they are or what they can afford,” he declares.
As 4baseCare charges toward this future, one thing is clear: the letters of life—A, T, G, and C—are spelling out hope for millions. And Hitesh and his team? They’re just getting started.
