Prime Highlight
- India launches its first low-cost, fully indigenous gene therapy to treat Sickle Cell Disease, marking a major milestone in the country’s medical advancement.
- The breakthrough supports the goal of a Sickle Cell–Free India by 2047 and strengthens the nation’s move toward self-reliance in advanced healthcare.
Key Facts
- Similar treatments overseas cost Rs 20–25 crore, while the Indian-developed therapy is far more affordable without compromising quality.
- The therapy was developed by CSIR-IGIBand will be scaled up in partnership with the Serum Institute of India to treat Sickle Cell Disease and other genetic disorders.
Background:
In a historic step for healthcare innovation, India has launched its first homegrown CRISPR-based gene therapy to treat Sickle Cell Disease, a genetic blood disorder that severely affects the tribal population. Named “BIRSA 101” in honour of tribal freedom fighter Bhagwan Birsa Munda, the therapy promises to make world-class treatment more affordable and accessible.
Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, said the new therapy works like an exact genetic treatment, able to cure Sickle Cell Disease and improve care for several inherited disorders. Sickle Cell Disease causes chronic anemia, severe pain episodes, organ damage, and reduced life expectancy, affecting patients throughout their lives.
Dr. Singh said that India is taking a major step toward eliminating Sickle Cell Disease, supporting Prime Minister Modi’s goal of a Sickle Cell–Free India by 2047 and promoting self-reliance in advanced medical technologies.
Developed at the CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), BIRSA 101 shows that India can create advanced therapies at a much lower cost. Similar treatments overseas cost Rs 20–25 crore, but this Indian therapy is much more affordable while maintaining high quality.
To expand access, IGIB has teamed up with the Pune-based Serum Institute of India, using the enFnCas9 CRISPR platform to develop treatments for Sickle Cell Disease and other serious genetic disorders. Dr. Umesh Shaligram, Executive Director of Serum Institute, said, “Gene therapies in the world cost over three million dollars, and we want to make this treatment available to even the poorest patients.”
This success is a big step for India in genomic medicine and healthcare, giving hope to thousands affected by this disease.
