India's President Droupadi Murmu formally inaugurated the nation's first indigenous gene therapy and the world's most cost-effective "CAR-T cell therapy" for cancer at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay on Thursday.
CAR-T cell therapy has shown promising results in clinical trials and is expected to significantly lower the cost of cancer treatment for Indian patients.
This breakthrough represents a significant milestone in India's efforts to make advanced medical treatments more accessible to its population.
During the launch, the president praised the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, Tata Memorial Hospital, and industry partner ImmunoACT for their remarkable achievement in developing affordable gene therapy.
She emphasized that CAR-T cell therapy is one of the most groundbreaking advancements in medical science. It has been available in developed nations for some time, but it is extremely costly, and beyond the reach of most cancer patients around the world. However, India's CAR-T cell therapy is the most cost-effective therapy available worldwide.
She also emphasized that the launch exemplifies the "Make in India" initiative, serving as a brilliant showcase for "Atmanirbhar Bharat" ("Self-Reliant India").