India’s Atomic Energy Department Drives Cancer Care with Indigenous Research and Affordable Technology

The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) in India is spearheading a comprehensive and multi-pronged effort to transform cancer care in the country. Through its network of institutions, including the Tata Memorial Centre (TMC), the Board of Radiation & Isotope Technology (BRIT), and the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), the DAE is focused on developing indigenous, affordable, and cutting-edge solutions for cancer treatment, diagnosis, and research.

Leading Clinical Care and Research

At the forefront of this initiative is the Tata Memorial Centre, which provides evidence-based oncology care. TMC operates 11 hospitals, with eight already functional across major cities like Mumbai, Varanasi, and Guwahati. These centers not only deliver high-quality care but also play a critical role in guiding national cancer policy, educating future professionals, and conducting research that is specifically tailored to the country’s needs. A key achievement of this collaboration is the development of India’s first homegrown CAR T-Cell therapy, a significant leap in advanced cancer treatment.

Pioneering Indigenous Nuclear Medicine

A major focus for the DAE is to reduce India’s reliance on expensive imported nuclear medicine. The department is actively developing import substitutes for crucial diagnostic and therapeutic agents.

For Prostate Cancer: The DAE has developed and is supplying PSMA-617 for therapy and PSMA-11 for diagnostics, directly to hospitals across India through BRIT.
For Neuroendocrine Tumors: Efforts are underway to develop DOTA-TATE as an import substitute for the diagnosis of these tumors.
Targeted Therapies: The DAE is engaged in extensive research to develop targeted chemotherapy for complex cancers like triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). It has also created a specialized drug delivery system, MIBG conjugated doxorubicin, for neuroblastoma that significantly reduces side effects on the heart.

Innovations in Production and Affordability

The DAE’s commitment to accessibility is evident in the production and pricing strategies of its units.

BRIT’s Role: As the industrial arm of the DAE, BRIT produces a wide array of radioactive products for cancer management. This includes Cobalt-60 sources for teletherapy machines and Iodine-125 and Ruthenium-106 sources for brachytherapy, all of which are priced considerably lower than imported alternatives.
VECC’s Contribution: The Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre (VECC) is producing and supplying radioisotopes like Gallium-68-PSMA for diagnostics and 18F Sodium Fluoride for bone scanning. Additionally, VECC is developing India’s first indigenous 18 MeV Medical Cyclotron, which is expected to further reduce the cost of radioisotope production and make treatments even more accessible.
New Therapeutic Products: Notable achievements include the development of AKTOCYTE, a nutraceutical to reduce the side effects of radiotherapy, and BHABHASPHERES, indigenously sourced Y-90 microspheres for radioembolization therapy.

The DAE’s strategic collaborations and its focus on developing affordable, indigenous solutions are not only strengthening India’s pharmaceutical sector but also making advanced, life-saving cancer treatment a reality for a larger segment of the population.