India gets first home-grown gene therapy for Cancer

New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu has launched the country’s first homegrown, accessible and affordable gene therapy named “CAR-T cell” to fight against cancer.

The CAR-T cell therapy is developed in collaboration between the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, Tata Memorial Hospital and industry partner ImmunoACT.

“The launch of India’s first gene therapy is a breakthrough in our battle against cancer. As this line of treatment, named “CAR-T cell therapy”, is accessible and affordable, it provides a new hope for the whole of humankind,” Murmu said while addressing the gathering on the occasion at IIT Bombay today.

The President expressed confidence that the therapy will be successful in giving new lives to countless patients.

“CAR-T cell therapy is considered to be one of the most phenomenal advances in medical science. It has been available in developed nations for some time, but it is extremely costly and beyond the reach of most patients around the world. The therapy that launched today is the world’s most affordable CAR-T cell therapy,” Murmu said.

“In the development of CAR-T cell therapy, technology is not only being put in the service of humanity, but partnerships have been with an eminent institution from another field as well as with industry,” she added.