Union Science & Technology Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh unveiled India’s first homegrown CRISPR gene therapy for Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), a genetic blood disorder that disproportionately affects the country’s tribal populations.
The therapy, named BIRSA 101 in memory of tribal freedom fighter Bhagwan Birsa Munda, was developed at the CSIR–Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB). According to Dr. Singh, the new treatment marks India’s “decisive journey towards becoming a Sickle Cell–free nation,” while showcasing the country’s capacity for developing cutting-edge, affordable healthcare technologies.
A major component of the launch was a technology transfer agreement between IGIB and the Serum Institute of India (SII). The collaboration will scale up the therapy using IGIB’s engineered enFnCas9 CRISPR platform. International CRISPR-based therapies for SCD can cost Rs 20–25 crore. But the indigenous BIRSA 101 is expected to significantly lower this cost.
The therapy is being launched with special focus on tribal regions — where SCD prevalence is among the highest in India.