‘One-Dose Cancer Cure’: MedTherapy Unveils India Push For Affordable Gene Therapy
‘One-Dose Cancer Cure’: MedTherapy Unveils India Push For Affordable Gene Therapy Published By, Last Updated: May 26, 2026, 14:46 IST The company says its larger
‘One-Dose Cancer Cure’: MedTherapy Unveils India Push For Affordable Gene Therapy Published By, Last Updated: May 26, 2026, 14:46 IST The company says its larger ambition is to dramatically reduce the cost and manufacturing time of advanced gene therapies that remain unaffordable for most patients worldwide Rapid Read The push comes at a time when countries across the world are racing to build capabilities in precision medicine, cell therapy and gene-editing technologies. A US-India biotechnology collaboration backed by major industry and academic players is positioning India as a future global manufacturing hub for advanced cancer gene therapies, betting on lower costs, faster production and rising global demand for next-generation treatments. At a press conference scheduled in Mumbai on May 27, biotech firm MedTherapy Biotechnology is set to unveil its plans for what it describes as India’s first global CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization) facility focused on cancer gene therapies. The company says its larger ambition is to dramatically reduce the cost and manufacturing time of advanced gene therapies that currently remain unaffordable for most patients worldwide, especially in developing countries like India.
Gene therapy is increasingly seen globally as one of the most transformative frontiers in medicine because, unlike traditional treatments that manage diseases over years, these therapies attempt to repair or modify malfunctioning genes directly to potentially cure illnesses through a one-time treatment. MedTherapy claims its next-generation cancer therapies could eventually bring down treatment timelines from several weeks or months to just one day, a shift the company says could prove crucial for terminally ill patients who often do not survive long enough for personalised therapies to be manufactured. The company also says it aims to reduce manufacturing costs by more than 70 per cent, potentially making therapies that currently cost close to a million dollars globally accessible at a fraction of current prices. MedTherapy, which operates out of New Delhi-NCR and Boston, says it is funded by Tata Sons and collaborates with institutions, including Harvard University and Cipla. The initiative is also being pitched as part of a broader “Make in India" biotechnology push aimed at attracting foreign investment, boosting exports and developing India’s capabilities in high-end biomedical manufacturing.
According to the company’s concept note, India could emerge as a global destination for advanced cancer treatments and medical tourism if domestic manufacturing significantly lowers the cost of therapies like CAR-T cell treatments. The company says it is working with 22 public-private partners across India, the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia and Africa as part of its global expansion strategy. The project also brings together several high-profile industry and medical figures. The keynote address at the Mumbai event is expected to be delivered by Dr Bikash Verma, former faculty member at Harvard Medical School and CEO of MedTherapy Biotechnology. Other senior figures associated with the venture include former Tata Motors MD Ravi Kant, Harvard leukemia specialist Dr Daniel DeAngelo, and former Pfizer India chief Kewal Handa. The push comes at a time when countries across the world are racing to build capabilities in precision medicine, cell therapy and gene-editing technologies, sectors expected to become major pillars of future healthcare economies.
For India, the success of such projects could potentially open a new frontier in biotech manufacturing beyond traditional pharmaceuticals and generics, though experts say scaling advanced gene therapy infrastructure, regulatory systems and affordability will remain major long-term challenges. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: May 26, 2026, 10:00 IST News india ‘One-Dose Cancer Cure’: MedTherapy Unveils India Push For Affordable Gene Therapy Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
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