Miltenyi Biotec and THSI Team up To Bolster R&D in Gene Therapy

Miltenyi Biotec, a prominent provider of biomedical solutions worldwide, has signed a Letter of Intent with the Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) in New Delhi, an autonomous institute under the Department of Biotechnology, ministry of science and technology. Both organizations are teaming up to create new cell and gene therapies to combat cancer as there is a rising demand for innovative treatments in this field. The announcement was made as part of THSTI's 15th Foundation Day Celebrations.

The goal of this partnership is to capitalize on the abilities of each organization to improve research and development in cell and gene therapy (CGT) specifically for cancer and sickle cell disease. This partnership would contribute to developing skills, transferring technology, providing training, and collaborating on research projects that would lead to the creation of medical treatments.

Cell and gene therapy provide personalized and precise strategies by using a patient's own immune cells to better combat cancer. Although cell and gene therapies are less taxing on other cells in the patient's body than traditional chemotherapy, they still need to enhance their scalability and affordability. So, Miltenyi Biotec strives to provide innovative and cost-effective options by improving the progress and speed of developing treatments nearer to where the patient is to combat cancer, specifically leukemia and lymphoma.

Cancer ranks as the second highest cause of mortality in India, following closely behind cardiovascular diseases. A study by the National Library of Medicine noted that lymphoid leukemia is most common among children aged 0-14 years.