India Achieves Breakthrough in Gene Therapy for Haemophilia, Dr. Jitendra Singh Reviews BRIC-inStem Trials

Bengaluru: In a major leap for India’s biotech sector, the country has achieved a milestone in gene therapy with its first-in-human clinical trial for Haemophilia, conducted at BRIC-inStem in collaboration with CMC Vellore. Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, reviewed the ongoing trials during his visit to the institute’s cutting-edge facilities in Bengaluru.

Calling the breakthrough “a milestone in India’s scientific journey,” Dr. Singh emphasized the transformative role of biotechnology in national development. “This is not just about science—it’s about nation-building,” he said, commending the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) for elevating India’s global scientific standing.

BRIC-inStem, a part of the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC), has emerged as a hub of translational research, with achievements ranging from COVID-19 antiviral innovations to the ‘Kisan Kavach’ for farmer safety. During his inspection, the Minister also toured the Biosafety Level III lab—an advanced national facility for studying high-risk pathogens under the ‘One Health Mission.’

The Minister lauded the launch of the new Centre for Research Application and Training in Embryology (CReATE), which focuses on developmental biology to combat birth defects and infertility. “With 3-4% of children born with some defect, this centre plays a vital role in maternal and neonatal health,” he noted.

Highlighting India’s biotech boom—growing 16-fold in the last decade to reach $165.7 billion in 2024—Dr. Singh attributed the success to key policy reforms like the BIO-E3 Policy, aimed at strengthening economy, employment, and environment through biotechnology. He noted that India now has over 10,000 biotech startups, up from just 50 ten years ago.

Dr. Singh also advocated for greater integration of scientific and medical research, suggesting MD-PhD programs and coordinated outreach to amplify impact. “What’s being done here should echo across the country—not for publicity, but because the nation needs it,” he stressed.

Concluding his visit, the Minister remarked that India’s future economy would be bio-driven, with institutions like BRIC-inStem leading the transformation. Quoting Mark Twain, he said, “The economy is too serious a subject to be left to economists alone. Biotechnology is not just a science anymore—it is a pillar of our national strategy.”