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Source: PIB
Launch: India’s first indigenous CRISPR-based gene therapy for Sickle Cell Disease (SCD)
Developed By: CSIR–Institute of Genomics & Integrative Biology (IGIB)
Industry Partner: Serum Institute of India (SIIPL) – for technology transfer, scale-up, and affordable deployment
Named After: Birsa Munda, on his 150th birth anniversary
Objective
- Provide a curative treatment for Sickle Cell Disease, a hereditary blood disorder affecting primarily tribal populations.
- Achieve India’s vision of Sickle Cell–Free India by 2047.
- Offer a low-cost, indigenous alternative to global therapies costing ₹20–25 crore.
How BIRSA 101 Works
- CRISPR Gene Editing: Precisely edits the defective gene causing sickle-shaped red blood cells.
- Stem Cell Therapy: Edited stem cells are re-infused into the patient, enabling normal haemoglobin production.
- Potential One-Time Cure: Offers a lifelong solution rather than repeated treatments.
Key Features
- Fully indigenous CRISPR platform (enFnCas9) engineered by IGIB.
- Affordable solution compared to expensive global therapies.
- Public–private partnership: Ensures scalability, safety, and regulatory readiness.
- Backed by advanced translational research facility at CSIR-IGIB.
- Supports India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat goal in cutting-edge medicine.
