New Delhi

Indian President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday (Apr 4) launched the country's first home-grown gene therapy for cancer at the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay. The line of treatment, called “CAR-T cell therapy”, is accessible and affordable. It provides new hope for the whole of humankind, a statement from President Murmu's office said.

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Addressing the occasion, Murmu said the launch of India's first home-grown gene therapy was a breakthrough in the country's battle against cancer. 

"I am told this therapy will be available across the country in major cancer hospitals, providing new hope to patients and their families. Moreover, this affordable treatment can be made available to all patients across the world. That will be in tune with our vision of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam," she said.

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"CAR-T cell therapy or chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy is a form of immunotherapy and gene therapy. It requires complex genetic engineering to modify the patient's immune cells, especially T cells, and make them fight cancer. CAR-T cell therapy is considered to be one of the most phenomenal advances in medical science," Murmu added.

The president highlighted that this therapy is the world's most affordable CAR-T cell therapy. It is also an example of the Modi government's "Make in India" initiative, a shining example of the "Atmanirbhar Bharat" (self-reliant India), she added.

The CAR-T cell therapy has been developed through collaboration between IIT, Bombay, and Tata Memorial Hospital in association with industry partner ImmunoACT. 

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"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," Murmu's office said in the statement.