Is Gene Therapy Available in India

In a bold move that signals its ambitions beyond vaccines, India’s Bharat Biotech has announced a $75 million investment in its first-ever cell and gene therapy (CGT) facility, set to open in the southern state of Telangana. The Hyderabad-based biotech firm, best known globally for developing Covaxin, India’s indigenous COVID-19 vaccine, is now venturing into one of the most advanced — and challenging — frontiers in medical science.

According to Chief Development Officer Raches Ella, the state-of-the-art facility is expected to be operational within the next three months. In an interaction with media on Thursday, Ella confirmed that Bharat Biotech is currently working on two cell therapies and three gene therapies, aiming to bring them to market within the next three years.

A Strategic Shift to Future Medicine

The decision to expand into CGT marks a strategic pivot for the company, traditionally focused on vaccines for infectious diseases. But it’s a calculated move, with market research firm Precedence Research predicting that the global cell and gene therapy market will balloon from $21.28 billion in 2024 to $117.46 billion by 2034 — a more than fivefold increase in a decade.

“Oncology and rare disease therapies are where we see the most urgent need and potential impact,” Ella stated. These therapies, which involve introducing modified healthy cells or genes into a patient’s body to treat or potentially cure conditions, are typically used to address genetic disorders, complex cancer cases, and autoimmune diseases.

Why Cell and Gene Therapy?

Cell and gene therapies represent a new era of personalized and precision medicine. Cell therapies often involve customizing treatment for individual patients, while gene therapies can be produced at scale and distributed to a broader population. Bharat Biotech plans to lean into gene therapies, which offer greater scalability — a critical factor for a country like India, where healthcare affordability remains a significant barrier.

“Right now, the cost of these treatments in India is around 5 million rupees (approximately $57,900),” Ella explained. “Our focus is on bringing that number down to make these life-saving therapies accessible to more people in our price-sensitive market.”

A Market Still in Its Infancy

India remains at the very early stages of CGT adoption compared to global peers like the U.S., Europe, and even China. Regulatory frameworks, infrastructure, and public awareness are still developing. Ella emphasized that affordability will be key to making an impact. Bharat Biotech also has its sights set beyond domestic borders, considering exporting these therapies once approved.

What’s Next?

While specific details on the diseases targeted by Bharat Biotech’s new therapies remain under wraps, the focus on oncology and rare diseases aligns with global trends. CGTs have shown promising results in treating leukemias, lymphomas, spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), and rare genetic disorders that were once considered untreatable.

Interestingly, recent CGT breakthroughs like Bluebird Bio’s Zynteglo for beta-thalassemia and Novartis’s Zolgensma for SMA have spotlighted the potential of these therapies — though at astronomical prices, often exceeding $1 million per treatment in Western markets. Bharat Biotech’s emphasis on affordability could position India as a potential CGT hub for emerging markets in the years ahead.

Final Thought

Bharat Biotech’s leap into cell and gene therapy represents not just a diversification strategy but a bet on the future of medicine in India and beyond. With global CGT market projections soaring and a healthcare system eager for cutting-edge solutions at realistic price points, this move could mark the beginning of a new chapter for the company — and for India’s role in next-gen therapeutics.