The 27th meeting of the Prime Minister’s Science, Technology & Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC) was held on Tuesday, at Vigyan Bhawan. The session focused on the development of Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT) in India, bringing together key stakeholders, including government officials, industry representatives, researchers, and healthcare professionals.
Prof. Sood opened the meeting by addressing the prevalence of rare diseases and the rising cancer burden in India, noting the potential of CGT in addressing these medical challenges. He mentioned the advancements in genome research, such as the Genome India Project, and the progress in CAR-T cell and gene therapy for Hemophilia as key milestones for future initiatives.
Dr. VK Paul from NITI Aayog stressed the necessity of accelerated development in CGT, advocating for collaboration between academia, industry, and government. He highlighted CGT’s success rates compared to conventional methods and called for efforts to ensure affordability and accessibility.
Presentations from the Department of Biotechnology, CSIR, ICMR, and the Department of Pharmaceuticals outlined current advancements in CGT. Contributions from industry leaders highlighted ongoing efforts and emphasized the need for regulatory updates, indigenous raw materials, infrastructure improvements, and workforce training.
Dr. Rajeev Raghuvanshi, Drugs Controller General of India, reviewed the regulatory framework for CGT development, focusing on initiatives to streamline approvals and strengthen oversight. He discussed reforms to simplify processes, including digitization and capacity-building.
The meeting concluded with discussions on a potential national mission for CGT, a centralized database for prioritizing disease research, and measures to enhance industry participation. Proposals included establishing CGT clinics at government hospitals and creating Centers of Excellence to support innovation. Discussions also addressed the need for efficient technology transfer and funding mechanisms to advance CGT in India.