Report

India gene therapy market is projected to witness a CAGR of 32.35% during the forecast period FY2025-FY2032, growing from USD 69.25 million in FY2025 to USD 492.59 million in FY2032. The growth of the market is supported by rising investments towards biotech startups, increasing approvals and provision of patents by regulatory bodies, growing threat of genetic diseases, and increasing industry-academia collaborations. The growing popularity of gene therapy can be attributed to the provision of treatment for a broad range of previously deemed incurable diseases.
The increasing efforts to propel the availability of different gene therapies in the country also positively influence the market's expansion. In February 2024, the first human clinical trials for gene therapy for hemophilia A were conducted at Christian Medical College (CMC) Vellore. The trials included deploying a new technology for expressing FVIII transgene in the patient's hematopoietic stem cell. The Department of Biotechnology hopes the vector will proceed with further clinical trials and soon be manufactured in India.
Additionally, the country's research efforts are also expected to augment the availability of different gene therapies. In June 2024, officials of the Union Tribal Affairs Ministry announced that the country is getting closer to developing an effective gene therapy for sickle cell disease, a highly prevalent genetic blood disorder among the scheduled tribes. According to an article published in the Lancet, India has the third-highest birth rate for babies with hemoglobin S mutation. It is among the highest hemoglobin S allele frequencies across the globe. Thus, the country's need for effective therapies to treat and manage the condition is increasing. Such developments and government efforts are expected to allow the patient population living with sickle cell disease to receive effective therapeutic solutions and combat the disease.
Rising Number of Approvals Boost the Market
The rise in approvals for gene therapies from different regulatory bodies and the provision of patents are propelling the Indian gene therapy market size. In January 2024, Kolon Life Science, Inc. announced that their patent KLS-3021, recombinant vaccinia virus for anti-cancer gene therapy, and KLS-2031, treating and alleviating pain for neuropathic pain gene therapy, won registration in India. Such approvals can be attributed to the successful outcomes of different gene therapies in clinical trials and their promise of delivering more effective and targeted treatments, especially for patients with chronic and rare diseases for which effective treatment options remain unavailable. The innovative approach aids in treating various diseases by delivering functional genes in cells to replace defective or missing genes.
Additionally, due to the vast potential of gene therapy to provide a cure for a wide range of diseases and disorders, research activities to assess their functioning and evaluate their safety and efficacy are increasing, ensuring the availability of new therapies and supporting the India gene therapy market growth.
Increasing Collaborations Support Market Expansion
The increasing collaborations between leading biotech companies and research institutions in the country are expected to bolster the India gene therapy market. In July 2024, Miltenyi Biotec B.V. & Co. KG and Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) announced a partnership for exploring gene and cell therapies for cancer treatment. Through collaboration, both organizations aim to address the increasing requirements for innovative cancer therapies and sickle cell disease. Such partnerships are expected to bolster the development and availability of novel therapeutic solutions to meet the unmet demands of patients in arenas where conventional treatment solutions have fallen short.
Due to the broader economic and societal impact of different chronic diseases that are devoid of affordable and effective treatment solutions, research activities towards gene therapies are increasing to address the underlying cause of chronic disease and halt its progression.
Increasing Investments Bolster Market Growth
The rising investments in the development and availability of gene therapies in India are expected to provide lucrative growth opportunities to the market. These therapies can potentially treat inherited disorders and often require a course for a short period or a single dose administration and address the cause of the disease, often providing a cure. Thus, various biotech startups are increasingly focusing on developing gene therapies, including CAR-T, and are receiving more investments from major healthcare and pharmaceutical companies, augmenting the growth of the India gene therapy market. The enhanced funding opportunities and strategic partnerships allow biotech startups to focus on strengthening their in-house research and development capabilities for potential gene therapies. The potential gene therapies and their affordability for patients in India are expected to significantly impact the treatment of previously incurable diseases, including lymphoma and blood cancer, among others.
Oncological Diseases Account for Major Market Share
The growing threat of cancer in the country is propelling the India gene therapy market demand. According to estimates from the National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research (NCDIR), the estimated number of new cancer cases in the country in 2022 was 1,461,427. About one in nine individuals in the country are expected to receive a diagnosis of cancer during their lifetime. This increase is augmenting the requirement for effective treatment alternatives for cancer and bolstering investments toward developing gene therapies that aid in combating oncological diseases. Gene therapy prevents cancer growth by controlling genetic mutations or altered genes. This approach is known as somatic gene therapy and uses the cells and genes of the patients. It does not impact the germ-line cells in the reproductive system, ensuring that no genetic alterations are passed on to the next generation.
Future Market Scenario (FY2025-FY2032F)
- As per the India gene therapy market analysis, the market is expected to witness significant growth in the coming years due to the increasing investments in the development of gene therapies and increasing industry-academia collaborations.
- The escalating cases of chronic diseases are driving the need for effective therapeutic solutions in India, creating a pressing demand for gene therapy. The estimates and projections from the National Cancer Registry Program further underline this urgency, with the incidence of cancer cases expected to surge by 12.8% in 2025 compared to 2020.
- Streamlining of regulatory processes is expected to encourage industry and investigators to initiate more clinical trials for gene therapies in the country without sacrificing rigor. Additionally, the increasing awareness about the current developments in gene therapies is expected to bridge the information gap between government-sponsored organizations, patients, scientists, and clinicians and ensure the availability of effective treatments for patients with genetic disorders.
Key Players Landscape and Outlook
The increasing efforts of the market players to launch affordable and accessible gene therapies in the country in collaboration with leading research and educational institutions are bolstering the growth of the Indian gene therapy market. In April 2024, the first home-grown gene therapy was launched in India, and it is a major breakthrough in aiding the country in battling cancer. The country's first CAR-T cell therapy was developed with a collaboration between ImmunoACT, the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, and Tata Memorial Hospital and is expected to inspire similar industry-academia partnerships. Such collaborations are also expected to boost the availability and accessibility of different gene therapies in India and allow the country to battle prevalent diseases that lack effective treatment solutions.