Precision oncology company 4baseCare is not just pushing the boundaries of genomic science, it is building cancer care solutions specifically for the Indian population, customised to various cancer types and their unique biological footprints.
Published May 16, 2025 | 9:42 AM ⚊ Updated May 16, 2025 | 9:42 AM
Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy inaugurating the 4baseCare facility.(Supplied)
Synopsis: Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy inaugurated 4baseCare’s Precision Oncology Advanced Genomics Laboratory in Bengaluru, and also unveiled the Global Cancer Diversity Atlas, an ambitious initiative aimed at spotlighting the genomic diversity in cancer across the globe.
In the evolving cancer treatment landscape, genomic data is emerging as a game-changer. By decoding the unique genetic makeup of a patient’s tumour, doctors can now offer precision medicine—tailored therapies that target specific mutations rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach.
This approach, while transformative, has a critical gap: Much of the existing cancer genomics research is skewed towards Western populations. In India, where genetic diversity and environmental factors differ significantly, the lack of representative data often limits the effectiveness of such targeted care.
That’s the gap Bengaluru-based precision oncology company, 4baseCare, hopes to bridge.
“Every cancer has a story—a story written in the DNA of human tissue. A story shaped by clinical insights. A story influenced by every patient’s biology, environment, and cancer theory. But not every story is heard, especially those from underrepresented regions and demographics,” said Hitesh Goswami, co-founder of 4baseCare, during the inauguration of the company’s new Precision Oncology Advanced Genomics Laboratory at Mahadevapura, Bengaluru.
The state-of-the-art facility was inaugurated by Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy, who also unveiled the Global Cancer Diversity Atlas, an ambitious initiative aimed at spotlighting the genomic diversity in cancer across the globe.
Through its latest efforts, 4baseCare is not just pushing the boundaries of genomic science—it is building cancer care solutions specifically for the Indian population, customised to various cancer types and their unique biological footprints.
“Our goal is to make advanced genomic testing and precision medicine accessible and meaningful for every individual in the fight against cancer,” Goswami added.
As India faces rising cancer incidence, such initiatives could mark a turning point, where every patient’s story is not only heard but also used to guide life-saving treatment.
In his keynote address, Murthy emphasised the need to make cutting-edge treatments truly accessible.
“If you’re well-connected with insurance companies, this way, people don’t have to bear the full cost to access your extraordinary services,” he said. “Again, this is something we can learn from the developed world—how best to partner with insurance companies and implement cost-reduction methodologies.”
Also present at the event were Ganapathy Subramaniam, Founding Managing Partner at Yali Capital; Rajan Anandan, Managing Director at Peak XV Partners; and 4baseCare’s co-founders, Hitesh Goswami and Kshitij Rishi.
Each cancer patient’s tumour is a unique picture hidden in thousands of tiny pieces. Genomic testing is the flashlight that helps scientists see how those pieces fit. For lung cancer, the image is often clearer—about 65 percent of cases reveal actionable mutations that guide treatment. But in rare cancers like sarcomas or head and neck cancers, only about 20 percent show such clues.
4baseCare builds custom-made puzzles for Indian and South Asian populations, adding 600 locally relevant genes to its panel. By designing its tools, it reduces costs and sharpens the picture.
Speaking to South First, Goswami explained the importance of making genomic tests more accessible.
“4baseCare has conducted genomic testing for 20,000 patients, and the actionability varies significantly depending on the type of cancer,” he said.
“For instance, in lung cancer, actionable mutations are found in as many as 65 percent of patients. But in some rare cancers, like head and neck cancers or sarcomas, the actionability drops to less than 20 percent. So, it completely depends on the kind of cancer,” he added.
4baseCare distinguishes itself through its customised gene panels and cost-reduction strategies. These panels are designed to be highly relevant not only for the Indian population but also for South Asians across the region.
“Our gene panel includes 1,200 genes. We’ve identified 600 additional genes associated with cancer pathogenesis and prognosis from an Indian population perspective. Because we design our panels, they are also more relevant for South-East Asians,” Goswami said. “Since we don’t have to pay IP premiums or distribution margins to third parties, we’re able to manage costs better and bring them down for our patients.”
The company is also working on an innovative initiative called the OncoTwin Insights.
“We have already begun developing something truly innovative—the OncoTwin insights When the insights comes to us, we don’t just generate the gene; we now run our Twin Match algorithm, which allows us to search for ‘twins’—patients with similar clinical genomic profiles based on these parameters,” Goswami explained.
Through such initiatives, 4baseCare is not only pushing the boundaries of genomic science but also creating cancer care solutions specifically designed for the Indian population, customised to the unique biological makeup of various cancer types.
In a significant step toward expanding access to precision oncology, 4baseCare has also partnered with AIIMS Jammu to establish the Center for Advanced Genomics and Precision Medicine.
Joining the event virtually, Dr. Shakti Gupta, Executive Director and CEO of AIIMS Jammu, emphasised the importance of this collaboration.
“Through this collaboration, we are making these tests accessible and affordable, bringing down the cost drastically to as low as ₹15,000 to ₹1 lakh. This has immense implications for timely and equitable access to advanced diagnostics,” Dr Gupta said.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
