ImpactGuru.com, India’s leading healthcare financing platform for patients, has raised Rs. 14.92 crore to cover the cost of the World’s Most Expensive Drug, Zolgensma, a one-time gene replacement therapy. Commercially, Zolgensma is available in the USA for approximately USD $2.1 million (INR 16 crores).

This is the First Fundraiser launched on an Indian crowdfunding platform that has raised the Rs. 14.92 crore record amount for a Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Type 1 patient.

 Case details

Mumbai based 5-month-old baby Teera Kamat is diagnosed with SMA Type 1, Zolgensma, in Teera’s current state could be a potential “cure.”

SMA is a rare genetic disease that attacks the baby’s nerves and muscles, and as it progresses, makes it extremely difficult for the child to carry out basic activities like sit up, lift their head, swallow milk, and even breathe. SMA is currently the leading genetic cause of infant death worldwide, and it affects 1 in 10,000 babies.

In November 2020, Teera’s parents Priyanka and Mihir Kamat put a heartfelt appeal, “Our brand new bundle of joy is fighting for her life. As of now, there are no treatment options available in India for this invisible killer. Our only hope for Teera to have a normal life is to be able to import Zolgensma, a one-time gene replacement therapy, which in her current state could be a potential “cure”. Zolgensma is Teera’s best shot at quality life and not just an extended life span. Other treatment options need recurring lifetime care with a significant annual costs. Commercially Zolgensma is available in the USA for approximately USD $2.1 million (INR 16 crores). We are unable to bear this steep cost; hence we request you to please donate with your heart so we can save our Teera’s life. We see the hope in her eyes and it gives us all the strength we need to wake up day by day and fight the good fight to save our baby girl.”

Teera’s ImpactGuru Fundraiser Page (https://www.impactguru.com/fundraiser/donate-to-teera) received a Total Page Visitor Volume of 1 million+ 

Khushboo Jain, Co-Founder and COO, ImpactGuru.com said, “It is heartening to witness that 87,189 Donors from 101 countries came forward to crowdfund Rs. 14.92 crore on ImpactGuru in a matter of 100 days for Baby Teera. The Top 10 Countries are India, The United States of America, Australia, Canada, Singapore, Germany, Malaysia, Qatar, Ireland and Netherlands. 

Majority contributions are from Indian Donors, constituting 84.14% from the raised amount. Highest Donation in INR is 5,00,000 contributed by a Bollywood Actor. 

18,564 Donors across Tier 1, 2 and 3 cities in India contributed Rs. 500 whereas the Average Donation is Rs. 1,700. 

Around 8,000 Donors contributed upto Rs. 100. Highest International Donation in USD is $5,000.”

In addition, the dedicated social pages called ‘Teera Fights SMA’ on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter is at a current cumulative count of 32K + followers

In a social media post on Teera Fights SMA page on 10th February, 2021, the family shared, “The Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue issued an ad-hoc exemption order on behalf of Teera to direct the department of customs to grant a customs duty and GST waiver on the import of Zolgensma.

Special thank you to Hon. PM Narendra Modi ji for personally intervening in our case and providing guidance to the concerned departments on the urgency of the matter. Your attention is truly appreciated and our little family is very grateful to you and the country for your help.

Last, but definitely not least. Thank you to more than one lakh donors who made this conversation even possible. Your love towards Teera is the reason we wake up every morning and continue to fight the good fight against this terrible disease.”

Crowdfunding is driven by a culture of generosity and a high propensity for people to pay digitally through social media. Rising internet access and digital payment penetration continue to complement the growth of the crowdfunding industry in India.

New technologies have been democratizing philanthropy and disrupting it for good. 

About ImpactGuru.com

ImpactGuru.com is India’s leading healthcare financing platform for patients and raises money online for medical expenses via online crowdfunding such as Covid-19, cancer, transplants, and accidents. It aggregates a large number of online payments to allow any individual requiring financial assistance to raise funds for any social cause.

Since its business operations in India in 2015, ImpactGuru.com has so far mobilized $200 million/Rs.1500 crores through its platform and global partners and helped more than 10,000 patients (directly) and 100,000+ beneficiaries (via its nonprofit partners) from 10 lakh + donors.