Big MNCs worldwide are looking for manufacturing hubs other than the US. Korea, China, Singapore, Malaysia and India are the preferred countries for contract manufacturing outsourcing and setting up their bases. India has an edge in the areas of manufacturing and clinical trials, Singapore is progressing in R & D whereas Korea is strong in R & D and manufacturing. Korea and Japan are highly regulated markets, and India is yet to fall in line with regard to strict compliance to regulations, Dr Krishna M Ella, managing director of Bharat Biotech told Pharmabiz.

India has a distinctive advantage in the biotech segment. The country produces about 1.4 lakh candidates with biotech degrees from various institutes and Universities, which proves the human resource potential the country has, which is lacking in many South Asian countries.

India has many strengths. It has good human resource capabilities, GMP knowledge and understanding, manufacturing that meets global standards and presence of many entrepreneurs. The country has some problems too- IPR, proprietary information, sharing of documents, ethics of promoters are issues of concern, Dr Ella added.

It is unfortunate that no developing country in the South Asian region has developed a vaccine by itself. The bio-pharma companies in the developing countries have been following basically a bio-generic model. New molecule development is needed to be taken up by South Asian countries, today.

He added, it is becoming essential for the countries in South Asia to develop vaccines by their own capabilities. The countries should effectively contain diseases by working together.