iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
India is positioned among the top 12 global biotech destinations across the world. Powered by groundbreaking innovations and robust commercialization strategies the sector has seen a meteoric ascent from $10 billion to $80 billion in just eight years.
“The recent prelude to the 10th Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit unraveled the nation’s burgeoning BioEconomy, with Gujarat taking center stage as a beacon of pioneering advancements in biotech innovation and commercialization,” said Dr. Prasun Mishra, a leading life science, technology, and healthcare thought leader and an Impact Investor. He chairs WISE: World Investors and Entrepreneurs Society, an investment collective with a global footprint.
Dr. Mishra is a renowned scientist with numerous publications and patents to his credit and has contributed to developing several drugs and combinations in trials. During his career, he served at several prestigious institutions, including pharma giant Genentech, Roche, Rutgers University, National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the U.S. Government. His research work has been recognized globally, with over 40 awards. A serial entrepreneur, Dr. Mishra is also a co-founder of Precision BioPharma Inc., an antiviral drug development company, and Agility Pharmaceuticals, a technology-driven pharmaceutical company.
“Gujarat is emerging as a fertile ground for biotech endeavors and the state now stands as a testament to innovation’s prowess. From a modest count of 40 companies in 2004-05 it now houses 116 active entities. Across pharmaceuticals, agriculture, industrial biotechnology, and environmental sciences, Gujarat emerges as a multifaceted hub driving biotech innovation across diverse domains,” Dr. Mishra said at a conference on Embarking on the Biotech Odyssey: Unveiling India’s Path to Innovation & Commercialization.
Post-conference highlights included several panel discussions including one coordinated by Dr. Mishra, American Association for Precision Medicine, who urged government policies incentivizing R&D investments and fostering a risk-taking culture to drive transformative innovations in India’s biotech sector. Dr. Mishra emphasized the need for government initiatives to bolster R&D investments and nurture a culture conducive to risk-taking, citing exemplary policies promoting innovation.
The panel discussion on “Research & Innovation Commercialization,” coordinated by Dr. Satya Dash, President of Strategy & Acceleration at Cygenica highlighted the transformation of research into tangible innovations.
During a discussion on UC-Santa Cruz’s research-to-innovation process, the panelists spoke about UC-Santa Cruz’s seamless research-to-innovation process, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaborations that shape the academic landscape’s future. Discussions unveiled key attributes of fundable startups, emphasizing innovation, scalability, and market relevance. The evolving landscape of deep-science startups showcased the burgeoning potential while highlighting the critical role of India in the global clinical research arena.
Dr. Chirag Trivedi, of Sanofi – a global healthcare and pharmaceutical company, advocated for industry-academia partnerships in clinical research, and accelerating groundbreaking treatments through collaborative endeavors. Dr. Trivedi shared insights on the need for industry-academia partnerships in clinical research, outlining Sanofi’s concerted efforts towards fostering collaborations to expedite innovative treatments.
Dr. Geetha Manjunath, Niramai Health Analytix championed academia’s pivotal role in fostering innovation, emphasizing research institutions’ critical contributions in nurturing a creative environment. Dr. Manjunath highlighted academia’s crucial role in fostering a conducive environment for innovation, showcasing Niramai Health Analytix’s commitment to collaborative research and development.
The panelists collectively endorsed streamlined regulatory frameworks, intensified interdisciplinary collaborations, augmented investment in education, and the creation of innovation-friendly ecosystems. These concerted efforts will propel India’s biotech odyssey towards unprecedented progress.
Gujarat’s Biotech Landscape in Detail:
Pharmaceuticals: Leading companies such as Cadila Pharmaceuticals, Zydus Cadila, Sterling Biotech, and more have positioned Gujarat as a significant player in producing critical drugs, vaccines, and diagnostic kits.
Agriculture Biotechnology: With giants like GSFC, GNFC, and Bayer Crop Care, Gujarat pioneers innovations in tissue-cultured plants, biofertilizers, and GM crops, bolstering agricultural sustainability.
Industrial Biotechnology: Companies like Maps (India) Ltd., Americos, and Aum Biochemicals propel advancements in sodium gluconate, protease, and other industrial biotech products, driving eco-friendly manufacturing.
Environmental Biotechnology: Innovations from companies like Eco-Microbial Technologies, fostering bio-remediation and non-polluting technologies, underline Gujarat’s commitment to sustainable solutions.
