India is getting closer to developing a gene therapy for sickle cell disease, a genetic blood disorder with a high prevalence rate among the Scheduled Tribes, officials of the Union Tribal Affairs Ministry said on June 19. He was speaking at the National Conclave on Generating Awareness on Sickle Cell Disease, organised by the Tribal Affairs Ministry in collaboration with the Birsa Munda Centre at the AIIMS. This comes months after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the CRISPR-Cas9 technology for a cell-based gene therapy to treat sickle cell disease in December 2023. Developing a gene therapy using CRISPR has been part of India’s mission to eradicate sickle cell disease by 2047. Following the addresses by senior officials and the Minister, a series of technical panel discussions were also held on recognising and screening for sickle cell disease, managing the disease, and other issues.

Source: The Hindu June 20, 2024 03:39 UTC