India has formally begun its decisive journey towards becoming a Sickle Cell Disease–free nation, with Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh launching the country's first indigenous CRISPR-based gene therapy for the condition, which disproportionately impacts tribal communities.

Named BIRSA 101, the therapy is dedicated to Bhagwan Birsa Munda — the revered tribal freedom fighter whose 150th anniversary was observed a few days ago.

Dr. Singh noted that the development of the therapy marks a significant stride toward realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a Sickle Cell–Free India by 2047, while simultaneously advancing the goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat in frontline medical technologies.   

He emphasised that the breakthrough, developed at CSIR–Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), has demonstrated India’s capability to produce pathbreaking therapies at a fraction of global costs, potentially replacing treatments priced at INR 20–25 crore overseas.  

Explaining the gene-editing approach, he said the technology works like a “precise genetic surgery”, capable not only of curing Sickle Cell Disease but also transforming treatment pathways for several hereditary disorders.

He urged scientific institutions to communicate breakthroughs in simple language through infographics and social media, ensuring the public fully understands the significance of these advancements.

Dr. Singh praised the growing synergy between government scientific institutions and Indian industry, especially the Serum Institute of India. He said such partnerships have already delivered globally recognised achievements- including COVID-19, HPV and other critical vaccines, and will now accelerate India’s leadership in gene therapy.

He emphasised that the Government alone cannot shoulder the entire burden of biotechnology expansion, and industry participation is essential for scale, affordability, and global competitiveness.

During the visit, Dr. Singh also inaugurated a new advanced research and translational facility at CSIR-IGIB. He interacted with scientists, reviewed work across genomic medicine programmes, and highlighted the need for integrated national models such as One Week- One Theme, enabling collaborative research across CSIR, DBT and partner institutes.

A formal technology transfer and collaboration agreement was exchanged between CSIR-IGIB and the Serum Institute of India, enabling translation of IGIB’s engineered enFnCas9 CRISPR platform into scalable, affordable therapies for Sickle Cell Disease and other critical genetic disorders.

Dr. Singh highlighted that such collaborations ensure that breakthroughs achieved in laboratories do not remain confined to research papers but reach real-world clinical deployment at scale.

He added that the transfer of BIRSA 101 and the CRISPR platform to a world-leading manufacturer like Serum Institute guarantees affordability, scalability, and global-standard manufacturing pathways- ensuring that advanced gene-editing cures become accessible for Indian patients, especially among underserved tribal populations. 

Dr. Singh urged scientific institutions, private partners, and policy agencies to work in a unified “One Week–One Theme” approach to accelerate outcomes and ensure constant visibility of India’s scientific progress.

The Minister added that India’s transformation—from being dependent on imported biomedical technologies to becoming a global leader in drug development, vaccines, and now CRISPR therapeutics—reflects the Prime Minister’s visionary leadership and the growing confidence of Indian science on the world stage.

“We are no longer just adopting global technologies; we are creating them. The world will now look to India for the future of affordable, cutting-edge healthcare,” Dr. Singh said.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Umesh Shaligram, Executive Director, Serum Institute of India, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to translating IGIB’s innovation into real-world impact.

“Globally, gene therapies cost over three million dollars and are beyond the reach of even the wealthy. Our mission is to take Indian innovation and make it accessible to the poorest of the poor. Serum has saved over 30 million lives through affordable vaccines, and we are fully committed to supporting the Prime Minister’s vision of a Sickle Cell–Free India by 2047,” he said.

He added that Serum Institute would continue working closely with IGIB and CSIR to ensure that innovative therapies reach those who need them most.