In a landmark move to strengthen India’s leadership in cutting-edge biotherapeutics, Miltenyi Biotec India and the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) have signed a strategic Letter of Intent (LoI) at the BIO International Convention 2025 in Boston. This collaboration is poised to accelerate India’s capabilities in Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT), focusing on capacity building, clinical research, and local manufacturing to address critical unmet medical needs.
The partnership between Miltenyi Biotec and BIRAC is structured around multiple key pillars:
1. Capacity Building and Workforce Development:
To develop a skilled workforce capable of driving India’s CGT sector, the partners will implement structured training programs. These programs will target clinicians, researchers, and technicians, offering hands-on training in CGT manufacturing processes, analytical techniques, and quality control measures. This initiative aims to create a strong foundation of technical expertise necessary for the sustainable growth of India’s CGT industry.
2. Expanding Translational Research:
The collaboration will support joint academic and multi-center clinical studies, focusing on the development of next-generation therapies. Priority areas include malignancies, autoimmune disorders, and rare diseases where CGT holds transformative potential. By fostering strong industry-academia linkages, the partnership seeks to translate cutting-edge research into accessible therapies for Indian patients.
3. Establishing Point-of-Care CAR-T Manufacturing Centers:
Leveraging Miltenyi’s advanced automated manufacturing platform, CliniMACS Prodigy, the initiative aims to establish decentralized Point-of-Care CAR-T therapy centers across India. These centers will enable scalable, cost-effective production of personalized treatments, bringing innovative therapies closer to patients and reducing dependency on imported products.
4. Promoting Indigenous Innovation and Manufacturing:
Aligned with the Government of India’s ‘Make in India’ mission, the initiative will foster local innovation by identifying and mentoring Indian startups in the CGT space. Additionally, it will strengthen domestic manufacturing of critical components and establish Centers of Excellence for CGT, positioning India as a global hub for affordable, high-quality cell and gene therapies.
This strategic partnership marks a pivotal step in building a robust, self-reliant CGT ecosystem that can deliver life-changing therapies to patients in India and beyond.