In a significant stride towards combating cancer, President Droupadi Murmu unveiled India’s first indigenous and cost-effective gene therapy for the deadly disease.
The groundbreaking gene therapy treatment, named “CAR-T cell therapy”, was introduced at IIT Bombay on Thursday, with President Murmu expressing confidence in its potential to rejuvenate countless patients.
CAR-T cell therapy, a form of immuno-therapy and gene therapy, involves intricate genetic engineering to enhance the patient’s immune cells, particularly T cells, enabling them to combat cancer.
While this therapy has been accessible in developed nations, its exorbitant cost has rendered it unattainable for most patients globally, including in India.
President Murmu hailed the development of this therapy as a hallmark achievement of the “Make in India” initiative, underscoring its alignment with the vision of an “Atmanirbhar Bharat”.
The collaboration between IIT Bombay, Tata Memorial Hospital, and industry partner Immuno ACT exemplifies a commendable synergy between academia and industry, remarked President Murmu, applauding the collective efforts behind this groundbreaking endeavour.
She stressed the pivotal role of Indian scientists and physicians in spearheading the development of this therapy, culminating in its approval in October 2023.
With cancer claiming a substantial number of lives worldwide, the urgency to combat this disease is paramount.
In India alone, 14.6 lakh individuals succumbed to cancer in 2022, a figure projected to rise to 15.7 lakh by 2025.
President Murmu underscored the significance of the therapy’s launch, heralding it as a monumental stride in India’s healthcare innovation journey.
She also hailed that this milestone positions India on the global stage of advanced medical care, elevating the nation to the forefront of countries with access to cutting-edge medical technologies.
