The Global BioPharma Conference Group, comprising of companies from various countries, has organised a conference with the focus on synergies in the global biotechnology industry along with biotechnology entrepreneurship boot camp. The conference was inaugurated by Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy, chief minister of Andhra Pradesh recently.

The organisers felt that the conference would enable to establish partnerships with Indian and US companies. The conference will deal, discuss in detail the major challenges faced by the industry.

D Purandareswari, Minister of State for Human Resource Development, said on the occasion that the Indian biotechnology sector is witnessing enormous growth and a significant number of biotech companies have been established in the last five years, in the country.

With the growing opportunities, the sectors are also experiencing several challenges such as lack of funding, skilled personnel, industry-academia gap, restrictions in conduct of clinical trials in large animals, she added.

Dr Thomas Monath, partner, Pandemic and Biodefense Fund, Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers made his key note address on the biotech business environment and opportunity. The strategy to combat future outbreak of infectious diseases such as Dengue, Chikungunya, Influenza as discussed by a panel of experts including Dr David lang, clinical professor, University of California; Dr Krishna M Ella, managing director, Bharat Biotech; Dr Jag Khalsa, chief, Medical Consequences Branch, National Institute of Drug Abuse, NIH; Dr AP Dash, director, National Institute of Malaria Research.

The conference was held in collaboration with several US universities.