BIRSA 101
Recently, the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology launched India’s first indigenous “CRISPR” based gene therapy for Sickle Cell Disease and named it BIRSA 101.
ABOUT BIRSA 101
- It is India’s first indigenous CRISPR-based gene therapy, designed to treat Sickle Cell Disease (SCD).
- The therapy has been named Birsa-101 in honour of the tribal leader Birsa Munda.
- Developed by: It is developed by the CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB).
- Key Features of BIRSA 101
- CRISPR Technology: It utilizes the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing tool to correct the genetic mutation causing Sickle Cell Disease.
- Affordability: It is priced significantly lower than global CRISPR treatments, making it more accessible to the poorest populations.
HOW DOES BIRSA 101 CURE THE DISEASE?
- Birsa-101 precisely corrects the mutations in the genetic code that causes the disease.
- The therapy has to be given as a one-time infusion, after which the body should start producing normal red blood cells instead of sickle-shaped ones.
WHAT IS SICKLE CELL DISEASE?
- It is a genetic condition that leads to the body’s red blood cells becoming rigid, sickle-shaped, and less capable of carrying oxygen.
- The shape of the blood cells can also lead to blockages in blood flow, leading to acute episodes of pain, chronic pain, organ damage, anaemia, infections, and strokes.
- A person can be a carrier and not have a disease.
- The likelihood of a child having the disease increases if both parents are carriers or one parent has the disease and the other is a carrier.
WHAT IS SICKLE CELL ANAEMIA?
- It is an inherited blood disorder.
- It affects haemoglobin, the molecule in red blood cells that delivers oxygen to cells throughout the body.
- People with this disease have atypical haemoglobin molecules called haemoglobin S, which can distort red blood cells into a sickle, or crescent, shape.
- These sickle cells also become rigid and sticky, which can slow or block blood flow.
- What causes it?
- The cause of Sickle cell disease is a defective gene called a sickle cell gene.
- A person will be born with sickle cell disease only if two genes are inherited—one from the mother and one from the father.
- Symptoms:
- Early stage: Extreme tiredness or fussiness from anaemia, painfully swollen hands and feet, and jaundice.
- Later stage: Severe pain, anaemia, organ damage, and infections.
- Treatments:
- The only cure for this disease is bone marrow or stem cell transplantation.
- However, there are treatments that can help relieve symptoms, lessen complications, and prolong life.
THE SICKLE CELL ANAEMIA MISSION
- It was announced as part of the Union Budget 2023.
- Vision: Eliminate sickle cell disease (SCD) as a public health problem in India before 2047.
- The overall aim is to enable access to affordable and quality health care for all SCD patients and to lower the prevalence through awareness, change of practices and screening interventions.
- The mission will entail awareness creation, universal screening of seven crore people in the 0-40 years age group in affected tribal areas and counselling through collaborative efforts of central ministries and state governments.
- Initially, the focus shall be on 17 states with higher prevalence of SCD,, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Bihar and Uttarakhand.
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