The Government of Maharashtra will soon set up a Pharma Park near Pune. The Park is to be on lines of the IT and BT Parks existing in the state. The government will be providing all infrastructure and financial assistance for the park, Dr Patangrao Kadam, Industries Minister, Maharashtra has said.

Inaugurating the 54th Indian Pharmaceutical Congress 2002, which began here on Friday, the minister also assured all possible help to the local organising committee of 54th IPC for establishing a well equipped state of the art "Drug Information Centre" near Pune. The fund for the drug information centre is to come partially from the proceeds of the IPC. The state government will ensure the balance amount. Dr Kadam is the patron of 54th IPC.

The minister urged the pharmaceutical industry to focus more on developing drugs for diseases particular to the country at large. Congratulating the organizers for selecting the theme "Biotechnology - A Challenge to Pharmaceutical Profession," the minister said that biotechnology has given more growth potential to the pharmaceutical industry. "The inherent advantages of highly skilled manpower and low cost of production are our strength. There is large number of companies entering in bio-generics production. The opportunities in the area of clinical trials, contract manufacturing and contract research are immense," he said.

The technology will also enable us to treat many diseases for which we have yet not found medicines. "I also understand that now the focus will be on "predictive" and "corrective" medicine due to the great advances made in the biotechnology," he added.

Speaking on the occasion, the guest of honour D B Gupta, chairman, Lupin Limited, also highlighted the need for intensified research. He called for a synergy between the pharma companies, academia and the government for fructification of new drug research. "Till date, we do not have even a single new drug to our credit. Though Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI) came out with a new molecule, it was not a commercial success," he noted.

The Lupin chairman found promising growth prospects in biotech sector with projections world over suggesting that more than 30 per cent of all new molecules are from biotech based products. "Lets us be practical and see how we can bring the results of new drug research to the market place," he said. The customary presidential address delivered by Dr V B Desai was another highlight of the inaugural session.

The dignitaries who shared the dais were Ravi Uday Shankar, president, All India Drugs Control Officers Confederation (AIDCOC), Dr Arun Nigvekar, chairman, University Grants Commission (UGC), Prof Chinnaswamy, Hon general secretary, Indian Pharmaceutical Congress Association (IPCA), P D Sheth, president, Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA), Dr Chandrakant Kokate, president, Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), Dr R s Gaud, president, Association of Pharmaceutical Teachers of India (APTI), Ashwini Kumar, Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), B R Shetty, president, Indian Pharmaceutical Forum, Dubai, U P Khobragade, Commissioner, Food and Drugs Administration, Maharashtra, Prof R S R Murthy, scientific convenor, IPCA, Krishnan, Kalra, secretary general, Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries, P P Sharma, president, Indian Pharmacy Graduate Association (IPGA) and Dr P Suresh, president, Indian Hospital Pharmacist Association (IHPA).

Dr M D Burande, organising secretary, local organising committee, 54 IPC proposed a vote of thanks.