Kotak Alternate Asset Managers Limited (Kotak Alts), through its Kotak Life Sciences Fund I (KLSF-I), has invested Rs. 200 million in Cellogen Therapeutics, a biotechnology company focused on developing cell and gene therapies.

The investment will support the advancement of Cellogen’s CAR-T clinical programs, the expansion of its gene therapy pipeline, and the strengthening of its GMP-compliant manufacturing and regulatory infrastructure.

Founded in 2021, Cellogen Therapeutics specialises in advanced cellular engineering and gene therapy. The company is led by Gaurav Kharya and Tanveer Ahmad and is backed by NATCO Pharma.

Its core technology platform focuses on next-generation CAR-T therapies, while the company is also developing early-stage programs targeting beta thalassemia and sickle cell disease.

Ashish Ranjan said, “India carries a high burden of blood cancers and genetic blood disorders, yet access to advanced therapies such as CAR-T and gene therapy remains limited, largely due to cost. Cellogen is working to address this gap through an indigenous, IP-led platform that brings together next-generation science and cost-efficient development.”

“Its bispecific CAR-T program places the company among a small group working on advanced multi-targeted CAR-T approaches globally. We see the potential for meaningful clinical impact and for building scalable, affordable cell and gene therapy capabilities from India,” he added.

Gaurav Kharya said the partnership would help accelerate efforts to make advanced therapies more accessible and scalable.

“Cell and gene therapies have the potential to fundamentally change how many diseases are treated. However, challenges around cost, scalability, and access continue to limit their adoption. With the support of partners like NATCO and Kotak Alts, we are focused on building therapies that are innovative, cost-effective, and practical to scale for wider patient access,” he said.

 Highlighting the company’s technology-driven approach, Tanveer Ahmad added, “Our AI-driven platforms are central to how we design and develop cell and gene therapies. This partnership gives us the opportunity to scale these efforts and move more decisively toward next-generation approaches, including in vivo CAR-T therapies.”

 The investment reflects growing investor interest in India’s emerging cell and gene therapy ecosystem, particularly in companies focused on developing indigenous, cost-effective advanced therapies for cancer and rare genetic disorders.