President of India, Droupadi Murmu, unveiled India’s first home-grown gene therapy for cancer, a groundbreaking treatment named ‘CAR-T cell therapy,’ which marks a significant milestone in the nation’s fight against cancer.
Speaking at the launch event, President Murmu emphasized the profound impact of this therapy, stating that its accessibility and affordability provide new hope not just for India but for humankind as a whole. She expressed confidence in its potential to offer new life to countless patients battling cancer.
CAR-T cell therapy, touted as one of the most remarkable advances in medical science, has long been available in developed nations. However, its exorbitant costs have rendered it out of reach for many patients worldwide. President Murmu highlighted that India’s version of CAR-T cell therapy, being launched today, stands as the world’s most affordable option. She lauded it as a shining example of the ‘Make in India’ initiative and a testament to an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India).
This pioneering therapy is the result of collaboration between the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, and Tata Memorial Hospital, in partnership with industry leader ImmunoACT. The President commended this as an exemplary academia-industry partnership that is poised to inspire similar efforts in the future.
Recognizing IIT Bombay’s global reputation as a model of technology education, President Murmu emphasized the role of technology in serving humanity through partnerships with esteemed institutions like Tata Memorial Hospital and industry leaders. She praised the focus on research and development that IIT Bombay and similar institutions have maintained over the past three decades.
