The Indian biotechnology sector is one of the fastest growing knowledge based sectors in India and is expected to play a key role in shaping India’s rapidly developing economy. With numerous comparative advantages in terms of R&D facilities, knowledge skills and cost effectiveness, the biotechnology industry in India is fast emerging as a global leader.
In this context the mega annual event of biotechnology and pharmaceutical, BioAsia 2016, being held in Hyderabad from February 8-10 at the Hyderabad International Convention Center (HICC), is all set to leverage India’s global biotechnology and pharmaceutical capacity to the next level.
The 13th edition of the event is being organized by the Government of Telengana, Federation of Asian Biotech Associations (FABA) in partnership with Pharmexcil and Government of India. According to organizers, this year’s theme BioAsia “Leveraging India to Succeed Globally” is aptly designed to explore the opportunities that Indian can utilize to become a global hub for research, innovation, manufacturing and supply of high quality affordable biopharmaceuticals products to the global community.
Fortunately, the present business environment in India is also quite conducive for the biotechnology and biopharmaceutical researchers, innovators, investors and explorers of new business opportunities to make maximum out of global platforms like BioAsia. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visionary ideas like ‘Make in India’ has in fact has greatly helped to rejuvenate the industrial environment of the country.
Events like BioAsia, over the years, have built a formidable reputation with key stakeholders across the globe now consider it to be one of the pre-eminent meetings in Asia. This year this major event in Hyderabad is expected to witness around 1700 delegates and 2000 visitors from over 50 countries from all around the world.
Commenting on BioAsia’s success, Shakti Nagappan, CEO of BioAsia says, “With an objective of optimizing the immense business potential of biotech, BioAsia enables an effective environment for fostering collaborations, joint ventures, M&As that has increasingly become an integral part of industry growth agenda. BioAsia also provides a dynamic platform for companies to exhibit, launch and showcase their unique strengths, products and services.”
According to Dr. P.V. Appaji, Director General of Pharmexcil, BioAsia, as usually has been playing a vital role in connecting people across the globe at one place. With Hyderabad being a hotspot for biotechnology industry events like BioAsia, it will further boost the morale as more and more innovators, researchers and inventors come here and gauge their potentials.
“With biotechnology being an emerging industry, game-changing strategies and relevant application of the knowledge-intelligence resource pool, drive the process of growth. In fact BioAsia seeks to enhance, enrich and encourage newer innovations, path-breaking discoveries and effective solutions in the industry by offering a vibrant global platform for convergence of the key stakeholders - biotech & biopharma companies, research institutions, investors, service providers, policy makers, regulators and analysts, “says Appaji.
Experts feel that BioAsia has become an entity which is committed to the promotion of biotechnology, and encourages knowledge and experience sharing amongst industry players, academia, young research scientists to spark innovations and initiatives through appropriate awards and recognitions. In addition, by creating a dynamic forum for sharing experience of global thought leaders and through panel discussions, BioAsia plays a key role in advocating issues to the policy makers and in charting out a road-map ahead.
Topics for discussion
February 8, the inaugural day will witness leading delegates visiting the BioPark at Shamirpet. The event will start with a keynote address on the theme ‘Leveraging India to Succeed Globally—connecting the dots’. This will be followed by presentation of the Genome Valley Awards to those who have shown exemplary performance in the biotech arena.
The second day will witness three concurrent conferences on drug discovery & innovation, clinical research and rapid Diagnostics Conference along with International Exhibition, Startup Showcase, International Buyer-Seller Meet and Partnering.
In the ‘drug discovery and innovation’ the lead experts from the industry are expected to talk on topic of ‘Building a strategy for India, and beyond’. Here the experts are expected to deliberate on ways to develop bio economy of the world. Focus will be on issues like policies (IP/Pricing, etc) and Regulatory & Quality. However other aspects like finance & taxation, incentives and issues pertaining to cluster development, incubation, skill development etc are also expected to come for discussion among the presenters.
The BioAsia platform is also expected to deliberate on the topic ‘From science to solutions - Innovative strategies in the drug discovery.’ Here the experts will be talking on models of collaboration (Both industry-academia & industry-industry and beyond). Further, lead experts from the biotechnology industry will also be throwing light on formulation innovations 3D printing, personalized medicines, newer delivery formats, targeted therapeutics etc.
Some experts will also focus on newer way to finance R&D and enable use of big data critical for research and innovation. On the last leg on under drug discovery, lead experts will also discuss on the topic of ‘Industry Consolidations & Venture Capitalism’.
This session will throw light on critical topics like what investors are thinking; what is their take? However, this session is going to give a focal point of view on biopharma/pharma sector, M&A deal trends, deal strategies & structuring insights and other aspects of business in the pharma and biotechnology arena.
The simultaneous conference of clinical research will be focusing on topics like biosimilars industry and emerging global scenario. During the panel discussion, critical issues like regulatory pathway for biosimilars in India compared to global guidelines is expected to come up for discussion which will give greater insights of regulatory issues and bottlenecks. Further this session is also expected to have presentations on clinical trial requirements for biosimilars, analytical challenges in biosimilar projects, technology know-how and Pharmacovigilance in biosimilars. Protocols & international standards for POCTs will be discussed at the panel discussion session at the rapid diagnosis conference on the occasion.
In fact BioAsia 2016 will become a platform for detailed discussion of biosimilars, the emerging industry. Lead speakers will be deliberating on the topic ‘Will biopharma landscape undergo a sea change? The experts are optimistic on this as they feel the biopharma industry will dictate the future course of development in drug development.
The Chief Executives Conclave will be deliberating on Make in India (policy change, attitudinal shift of the government) and how it is being perceived by the industry and the global investors.
The final day of the conference will witness discussions on the topics ‘Digital Health and Healthcare IT’, ‘Medical Devices’, ‘Health & Access’. The technical seminar and the medical devices conference are being arranged by the Pharmexcil. "We are organizing the technical seminar on bio-pharmaceuticals and on medical devices this year’s BioAsia. Discussions on procuring procedures by government agencies will be discussed by the experts,” said Dr. Appaji.
On the ending note of BioAsia , speakers will share some of the aspects of technology that are transforming life sciences and advancements in 3D Printing. There will be discussions on how pharma & biotech companies are using technology to drive innovations, growth, productivity etc. Recalibrating strategy - what companies are doing differently? Regulation for medical devices, price control, organic or inorganic growth plan AND commercialization strategies along with product innovations are some of the other focused topics that may come for discussion at the event.
Drivers of growth
India is among the top six producers of pharmaceuticals in the world. The country boasts of world renowned quality as there are approximately 1,297 WHO GMP standard manufacturing units supplying vaccines and medicines to the global community.
Indian pharma can boast itself as a global hub as it has over 10,500 manufacturing units & over 3,000 pharma companies growing at an exceptional rate. The main driver for India is its quality and affordable prices. Manufacturing costs are 35-40 per cent less compared to those in the US and EU. India has immense growth capabilities as it enjoys a large pool of scientific talent at a reasonable cost. Over the years, the country has established 19 dedicated pharmaceutical SEZs at various stages and has devised liberal policy initiatives to attract investors and encourage manufacturing industry to meet the global requirements.
At the same time Hyderabad is of vital importance for pharmaceuticals and biotechnology companies in the country. Today Hyderabad is projected as a front-runner in life science innovation and manufacturing in the country. In fact about 33 per cent of the vaccines produced globally are from Hyderabad. The city of Hyderabad has inherent strengths in basic and advanced sciences (including chemistry, biology, IT, etc.); concentration of activities across verticals, and disease profile enables seamless forward and backward linkages / integration for product development including clinical development and translational research. Availability of ready to occupy facilities in various sizes with common facilities and large bank of land along with high quality ecosystem with rich talent pool puts Hyderabad ahead among others in the country.