BIRSA 101

News: India launched India’s first indigenous “CRISPR” based gene therapy for Sickle Cell Disease.

About BIRSA 101

• BIRSA 101 is India’s first indigenous CRISPR-based gene therapy.
• Aim: It is developed specifically for treating Sickle Cell Disease, a condition that heavily affects India’s tribal population.
• Named after: The therapy is named BIRSA 101 in honour of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, a revered tribal freedom fighter, whose 150th birth anniversary was recently celebrated.
• Developed at:  CSIR–Institute of Genomics & Integrative Biology (IGIB), showcasing India’s scientific capability in advanced therapeutics.
• Technology used: It uses CRISPR technology that functions like “precise genetic surgery,” capable of correcting the mutation responsible for Sickle Cell Disease.
  • It has potential applications for treating several other hereditary disorders.
• Affordable: The therapy is designed to be affordable, in contrast to global gene therapies that cost ₹20–25 crore (over 3 million dollars).
• A formal technology transfer agreement was signed between CSIR-IGIB and the Serum Institute of India (SIIPL) to scale up and manufacture BIRSA 101.
  • This partnership ensures affordability, scalability, and real-world clinical deployment.
• Significance: Since Sickle Cell Disease disproportionately affects tribal populations in central and eastern India, BIRSA 101 holds special national importance for improving tribal health outcomes.
  • The launch of BIRSA 101 marks the beginning of India’s decisive journey toward achieving a Sickle Cell–Free India by 2047, aligning with the Prime Minister’s national mission.