Having the maximum number of drug and medical research institutions located, Hyderabad is poised to contribute the highest to the Indian pharma research and development activities.
The city at present is fortunate to have a large network of research laboratories, 35 in all, such as the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD), Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), International Crop Research Institute for Arid and Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), the Directorate of Rice Research (DRR), National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) and other specialized agro-research centres of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (IARI), Dr Reddy''s Research Foundation (DRF), Aurobindo Research Centre, ICICI Knowledge Park Ltd, Hyderabad Eye Research Foundation of LV Prasad Eye Institute, Institute of Genetics and Hospital for Genetic Diseases and the Life Sciences Department of the University of Hyderabad and Osmania University.
The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB): It is one of the pre-eminent national laboratories of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. It focuses on high quality basic research in the frontier areas of modern biology research relevant to social needs and on application-oriented research towards commercialization.
CCMB provides state-of-the-art facilities such as confoscal scanning, fluorescence microscopy, micro array / DNA chips, automated DNA sequencing and proteomics. It also maintains transgenic animal models for human diseases and gene knockouts and a green house for plant molecular biology work. In the area of bioinformatics, it maintains updated databases on nucleic acids and protein sequences, equipped with sequence analytical software and modelling software.
CCMB played a key role in the development of the first recombinant DNA-based Hepatitis-B vaccine available in the market for human use by Shantha Biotechnics, Hyderabad. It has entered into collaborative agreement with Biological E Ltd, Hyderabad, for development of new technologies and techniques.
Another collaborative programme with Dr Reddy''s Research Foundation and the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology was aimed at developing a new therapeutic agent for the treatment of cancer. It has also entered into agreement with the Hyderabad-based Satyam Computers as well as Fortune Informatics in the area of Bioinformatics. Recently CCMB has developed a transgenic fly system for use by the pharmaceutical industry to validate potential drugs against cancer. This would enable CCMB to take up projects in developing new screening system(s) for specific disease / targets of interest to this industry.
CCMB has also entered into collaborative programmes with several organizations including contract research for private companies in areas such as DNA fingerprinting, wildlife management, genetic descriptions / ID cards for elite germplasm of the Indian rice, molecular characterization of acanthamoeba keratitis - an eye-infecting protozoan etc. CCMB also imparts training to doctoral and post-doctoral students and conducts short-term courses and workshops on specialized topics.
Established in the year 1977, CCMB is celebrating its silver jubilee on November 26 this year. Dr Lalji Singh is the present Director of CCMB.
Indian Institute of Chemical Technology: IICT: It is a premier R&D institute in India. The institute had its origin in 1944 as the Central Laboratories for Scientific and Industrial Research. In 1956, CLSIR came under the aegis of the CSIR and was renamed Regional Research Laboratory, Hyderabad (RRL-H). RRL-H was rechristened as the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad, in 1989, recognizing the multi-disciplinary activities of the Institute in the area of chemical technology.
The conduct of R&D work at IICT is fully geared to meet the requirements of technology development and transfer. With the help of excellent design and engineering expertise available, IICT has been providing engineering designs for commercial plants with standard commercial guarantees. More than 150 technologies developed by IICT scientists are now in commercial production. Its commitment to industry is reflected by way of several sponsored and consultancy projects from the industry year after year.
With over 700 highly professional and dedicated scientists and technicians, an excellent laboratory and instrumental facilities for research work, pilot plant facilities for scale-up studies and expertise in design and engineering of commercial plants, IICT is known nationally as well as internationally for its significant contributions both in basic and applied research in chemical sciences. Dr K V Raghavan is the present Director of IICT.
Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD): It was set up with the primary objective of providing DNA typing and analysis of exhibits referred to it by crime investigating agencies. Another important service component of CDFD is molecular diagnostics. The molecular basis of various genetic diseases is sought to be established by consolidating all the three laboratory based approaches -the biochemical, cytogenetic, and molecular.
The diagnostic group at CDFD reports on suspected chromosomal abnormalities and offers vital diagnostic tests in instances of high-risk pregnancies. The biochemical screening of newborns for inborn errors for metabolism is now being done at CDFD.
The bioinformatics facility at CDFD is well geared in terms of hardware and software to address computational issues in the post-genomics scenario. CDFD also conducts research at the frontiers of modern biology, which includes silkworm genetics, computational and functional biology, gene expression, genetics of bacterial stress, molecular epidemiology, mechanism of intervention in the disease process and molecular oncology.
Its collaboration with the Hyderabad Eye Research Foundation has led to the identification of mutations in the human genes responsible for certain eye diseases and methods to manage them. Its current efforts in collaboration with CDC Atlanta involve testing a candidate malaria, based on a multiple gene construct.
Founded in March 1996, CDFD is an autonomous center under the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology. Government of India. It initially started functioning out of a small - less than 5000 sq ft. area - in CCMB and is today working from two rented buildings. CDFD hopes to become fully functional once it moves to its new premises which is being built on a 13-acre plot in the outskirts of Hyderabad. Seyed E Husanain is the Director of CDFD.
National Institute of Nutrition (NIN): This flagship institution of the Indian Council of Medical Research not only conducts R&D programmes in human nutrition but has also been involved in international studies to improve the health of children, pregnant and lactating mothers and others, and to validate the benefits of traditional Indian spices and condiments as health aids and beneficiaries. NIN has the best animal house in the country, aided by the DBT, where both in-house and collaborative drug trials are successfully held. Its special strain of obese mice has proved useful in studying the pathological effects of overweight and ways to control its ill-effects.
Biotech Research
In addition, Hyderabad has several pioneers in the Biotech research such as Shantha Biotechnics Pvt. Ltd, Bharat Biotech International Ltd, Biological E Ltd, Indian Immunologicals Ltd, Krebs Biochemicals, Jupiter Orga, Dr Reddy''s Laboratories, Godrej Plant Biotech Ltd, AG Biotech Laboratories (India) Ltd, Biochemical and Synthetics Products Ltd, Biotissues Lab Private Ltd, Classic Biotech and Exports Ltd, Fortune Biotech Ltd, Haritha Biotech and Plantations, Mericlone Biotech Private Ltd, Metchnikoff Biosystems Private Ltd, GVK Biosciences Private Ltd and Satyam Informatics, among others. There are, however, only two companies in India which have successfully commercialized biotech products based on recombinant DNA technologies and both are located in Hyderabad.
Shantha Biotechnics Private Ltd: Founded in 1993 by Dr K Varaprasada Reddy, Shantha Biotechnics is the largest biotechnology company in the private sector and was successful in launching India''s first genetically engineered human healthcare product -- a vaccine for Hepatitis-B with recombinant DNA technology under the brand name Shanvac-B. The company recently launched the first indigenously developed insulin called Shanferon for diabetes patients at a very cheap price compared to the imported brands.
The company is involved in the development of major generics like interferon alpha, streptokinase, Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor (GCSF), diagnostic and therapeutic antibodies for various diseases, new vaccines against Hepatitis-C and Hepatitis-E viruses, new generation vaccines against Hepatitis-B virus, the development of new formulations and drug delivery systems and the molecular cloning and expression of native genes.
The company has a state-of-the-art R&D facility near Hyderabad with highly qualified scientific personnel. The company has gone global in August 2000 by establishing a subsidiary in Delaware, USA, and by entering into a strategic alliance with Crop.Tech.Inc., USA, for providing cloning technologies. It was awarded the First National Technology Award for Successful Development and Commercialization of Indigenous Technology and the DSIR Award for best R&D efforts in industry by the Government of India.
Bharat Biotech International Ltd: The company was set up by Dr Krishna Ella, a scientist entrepreneur, with the aim of pursuing pioneering research in healthcare through genetic engineering and of producing healthcare products for diseases endemic to India and the South-East Asian region. It was a pioneer in producing a Hepetitis-B vaccine based on recombinant DNA technology under the brand name REVAC-B. It is the second largest facility for the manufacture of this vaccine in the world with a capacity of 100 million doses per annum Bharat Biotech has a state-of-the-art multi-product contract manufacturing, formulation and filling plant for biotechnology products. The company''s current research activities cover a third generation Hepatitis-B vaccine in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Science, Streptokinase, human insulin and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF). The company won the national award in 1999 for Best R&D efforts from the Government of India. It is the largest biotech facility in India conforming to the standards of WHO, USFDA and UKMCA.
The Government of Andhra Pradesh has assisted ICICI to set up the ICICI Knowledge Park near Hyderabad. The park provides ready-to-use laboratories on lease basis to companies and provides support services. The Shapoorji Pallonji Biotech Park coming up adjacent to the Knowledge Park will have an organic relationship with the ICICI park, in terms of research and development. The state government is developing an area of 600 sq.km in and around Hyderabad as the Genome Valley in which biotech research activities would be encouraged and promoted. The government is also planning to set up another Biotech Park at Eluru, near Vijayawada.
In addition, Hyderabad University, Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University, medical institutes such as NIMS and SVIMS, the NTR Health University and other centres have R&D facilities in various aspects of biotechnology.