Early-stage risk research and development funding, is essential to achieve excellence in the field of life sciences and biotechnology. Such funding allows exciting risky ideas from academia and industry researchers to be tested for its feasibility. In fact, early stage research and development funds permit researchers and organization to not shy away from high-risk projects due to fear of failure, a phenomenon that besets innovation, said Dr. Taslimarif Saiyed, director and COO, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms in an email interaction with Nandita Vijay. Excerpts:
What are the likely implications of the new R&D developments that fund high-risk pre-proof-of-concept (POC) research and late stage development on the future development of the Indian pharmaceutical industry?
If I quote our beloved ex-President Dr Kalam, "Innovation is the key to growth of the society and its economy” and "Excellence is not by accident. It is a process, where an individual or organisation or nation continuously strives to better oneself". Indeed, early-stage risk research and development funding, for pre-POC and post POC development is essential to achieve excellence in the field of lifesciences and biotechnology. Such funding allows early exciting risky ideas from academia and industry researchers to be tested for its feasibility for industrial development and commercial applications. With increase in government funds coming in for such high-risk, high-reward projects, this significantly increases pool of such projects/studies which will be undertaken, increasing overall chance of novel technologies, like molecules etc. in pharma industry compared to generic and others. In such a mechanism, the risk is taken by entrepreneur and government for early stage projects. They take off some risk burden from the industry, or allows the industry to partner in the investment for such projects. In essence, these early stage research and development funds permit researchers and organization to not shy away from high-risk projects due to fear of failure, a phenomenon that besets innovation.
What are the visible research trends in the space?
In the field, multiple research, trends are emerging using novel technologies and also integrating current knowledge and technologies. Cancer therapeutics is one of the most engaged research areas around the world, for there are multiple types of cancers and also cancers in different populations. Another major global research effort is in infectious diseases like HIV, TB, malaria etc. caused by pathogenic microorganisms like bacteria, virus fungi etc. For such infectious diseases, intensive research has been going on to study these pathogens but also to study host human-pathogen interactions with an aim to arrest such infections. One of most challenging areas currently has been ever growing anti-microbial resistance where some microbial infections are indicating resistance to anti-microbial or antibiotics treatment. Research in this area is supported significantly to understand the cause of the resistance and how this could be addressed for better treatment for infections in future.
In broader terms, in many disease areas now, biomarker discovery leading to early prognostics and diagnostics is also important key area that allows early likelihood or detection for a disease and hence, appropriate treatment for the same. Diagnostic platforms and medical devices are being designed for affordable, broadly accessible, high-quality, high-precision solution diagnostic platforms or medical devices. Research in the field of biologicals for novel biologicals, biosimilars, and also for technologies, which allow high-quality and cost-effective production of these biologicals and hence, more affordable biological drugs for patients are on. Integration of nanotechnology for diagnosis and therapeutics is emerging as an exciting area both in the west and also gradually in India.
What are the issues bogging the India R&D space across large small medium enterprises and the startups?
While at some level research and development is picking well, there are several hindering factors for small medium enterprises (SMEs) and Start-ups. These include lack of clarity on scientific legalities including ethical approvals for different kind of experimental work, clinical development understanding for development work, and regulatory approvals for products. Another issue that has been discussed but hasn’t been addressed fully is industry-academia collaborations, which allows industry to capture high-end research knowledge from academia and allows academia to seek translation of their discoveries and knowledge into application, products etc. There has been also a significant lack of early stage private funding for SMEs and start-ups for their novel, risk-oriented projects, after government grants and before private equity, which comes at very late stage. One important aspect that hurts these companies is resources available to carry out research and development activities like high-end technology platforms and high-end laboratories.
Could you tell us the how C-CAMP has enabled much of the start-up R&D cos to take off?
The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) is a Department of Biotechnology (DBT, Government of India) initiative and a member of the Bangalore Bio-Cluster, which includes two very strong academic organizations, NCBS and inStem. C-CAMP's aim has been to enable cutting-edge bio-science research and entrepreneurship. Firstly by making available state-of-the-art technologies and providing training on these technologies to researchers in academia and industry. Secondly by building a thriving ecosystem to stimulate innovation and promote bio-tech entrepreneurship in India.
In the last few years, we have been able to create and foster an entrepreneur-friendly culture in and around this academic environment through various activities. We have partnered with BIRAC, DBT to help with the Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG) scheme grant that funds start-up companies and individual scientific entrepreneurs to establish proof-of-concept and transform their innovative ideas into viable competitive products and enterprises. Through our Entrepreneur Mentorship programme, C-CAMP nurtures these start-ups with scientific and business mentorship. C-CAMP also provides a high-end bio-incubation facility to these start-ups. Access to such ready-to-use scientific infrastructure along with seed funding, in a nurturing academic environment gives these young entrepreneurs the kick-start they need to propel them towards market and commercialization.
How do you view the scientific talent in the industry?
The scientific talent I have come across in the industry is very good at different levels. Also, I have seen in many in companies that due to collaborations with MNCs, best practices have come in their processes and hence, to scientific pool, which is crucial for successful implementation of development projects.
What are India’s shortfalls in R&D compared to the West?
One of the most striking differences is strong academic entrepreneurship culture, which is is not there in India. One often cited example is Genentech, which was founded by a Professor of University of California, San Francisco with novel idea and innovation. Academic entrepreneurship allows strong scientific ideas taken forward by inventors themselves, with their belief and deep knowledge in the field. The scenario in India is changing for academic entrepreneurship but slowly.
Another vital aspect that could help research and development is a big national policy-level change at national level to allow support for R&D, like done in many upcoming R&D hubs like Israel, Singapore etc. recently and US-Europe long back.
As the head of C CAMP, could you tell what are the likely future thrust areas of R&D in India?
In the pharma industry, current strength in generics has built a solid base of knowledge, capability and capital for future innovation research. There are several examples of leading pharma companies working for novel therapeutic solutions. In addition, this could also provide lead in many other areas like nanotechnology, biosimilars, medtech, innovation in agriculture.