Union Government launched BIRSA 101, India's first indigenous CRISPR gene therapy targeting Sickle Cell Disease. Developed by CSIR-IGIB and SII, this affordable enFnCas9 technology primarily benefits tribal communities, accelerating the National Sickle Cell Elimination Mission 2047
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, in collaboration with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), organized a workshop on “BIRSA 101”.
BIRSA 101 is India's first indigenous CRISPR-based gene therapy designed to cure Sickle Cell Disease (SCD).
The CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB) develops the therapy and transfers the technology to the Serum Institute of India (SII) for mass manufacturing and clinical trials.
The government names the therapy after the tribal freedom fighter Bhagwan Birsa Munda, because the disease predominantly affects India's tribal communities.
The number "101" in the name signifies going one step beyond perfection.
Technological Mechanism
BIRSA 101 utilizes an advanced, custom-built CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing tool named enFnCas9.
Doctors perform a one-time curative treatment by extracting blood-forming stem cells from the patient's bone marrow, editing the genetic error in a laboratory, and infusing the corrected cells back into the patient's body.
The indigenous enFnCas9 enzyme provides safety, producing up to 1,000 times fewer off-target edits compared to the standard SpCas9 protein used in foreign therapies like Casgevy.
Strategic Significance
The therapy slashes treatment costs to an estimated ₹50 lakh, compared to foreign alternatives like Casgevy and Lyfgenia, which cost between ₹15 crore to ₹25 crore per patient.
This affordability benefits vulnerable tribal populations in high-prevalence states such as Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.
The breakthrough accelerates the goals of the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission, which aims to create a Sickle-Cell-Free India by 2047.
It positions India as a global leader in Atmanirbhar Bharat, shifting the country from importing biomedical technologies to manufacturing affordable genomic medicines for low- and middle-income countries.
Source: PIB
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PRACTICE QUESTION Q. Consider the following statements regarding the recently launched 'BIRSA 101' therapy:
Which of the statements given above are correct? A) 1 and 2 only B) 2 and 3 only C) 1 and 3 only D) 1, 2, and 3 Answer: A Explanation: Statement 1 is correct: BIRSA 101 is indeed India’s first indigenous CRISPR-Cas9 based gene therapy designed to provide a one-time curative treatment for Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). Statement 2 is correct: The therapy utilizes a custom-engineered enzyme platform known as enFnCas9, which is noted for improving precision and significantly reducing off-target genetic edits compared to standard foreign SpCas9 proteins. Statement 3 is incorrect: While the technology was developed by the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research - Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB), its mass manufacturing is handled through a structured technology-transfer agreement with the Serum Institute of India (SII), not the ICMR. |
BIRSA 101 is India's first completely indigenous CRISPR-based gene therapy designed as a one-time cure for Sickle Cell Disease (SCD).
Scientists at the CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB) developed the therapy and transferred the technology to the Serum Institute of India (SII) for mass manufacturing and clinical trials.
The government named it in honor of the tribal freedom fighter Bhagwan Birsa Munda on his 150th birth anniversary, recognizing that Sickle Cell Disease predominantly affects India's tribal communities.
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