India Launches BIRSA 101: First Indigenous CRISPR Gene Therapy for Sickle Cell Disease

India has launched its first indigenous CRISPR-based gene therapy, BIRSA 101, to treat Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), particularly affecting tribal communities in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Maharashtra.
Unveiled by Science and Technology Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, the therapy offers a potential one-time cure by correcting the genetic mutation, making treatment affordable compared to costly global alternatives.
Developed through public-private partnerships including the Serum Institute of India, BIRSA 101 supports the National Sickle Cell Elimination Mission, aiming to screen, diagnose, and treat millions, and marks a milestone in India’s genomic medicine and tribal health initiatives.