India’s push for affordable cell and gene therapies amid Antimicrobial Resistance(AMR) concerns

India is making strides in advanced healthcare technologies like cell and gene therapies, but affordability remains a key challenge, as highlighted at the India AMR Innovation Workshop held at C-CAMP.

Cell and gene therapies represent a major leap in medical treatment by targeting diseases at their root. While gene therapy corrects defective genes, cell therapy involves introducing modified or healthy cells to treat or even cure conditions such as blood cancers and rare genetic disorders. However, their high costs — often reaching several lakhs or crores — limit access for the vast majority.

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To address this, the Centre is planning a national "Cell and Gene Therapy Mission" aimed at fostering collaboration across ministries and scientific institutions. The goal is not only innovation but also large-scale production and cost reduction. Initiatives such as IIT Bombay’s chemical synthesis efforts and ImmunoACT’s CAR-T therapy serve as early examples of progress, with private firms now working to scale and commercialize these technologies affordably.

In parallel, the workshop underscored the urgent need to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR), exacerbated by rampant over-the-counter antibiotic sales and poor regulatory controls. Experts noted that misuse in agriculture and veterinary sectors poses risks even to those who use antibiotics responsibly.

Karnataka has responded with a dedicated AMR action plan, as the global community warns that AMR could claim up to 10 million lives annually without immediate intervention.