India is engaged in a strong peptide research programme and the country can be a recognized as a global player in the area of peptide research and product development, stated Prof V S Chauhan, director, International Centre for Genetic Engineering And Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi and president, The Indian Peptide Society(IPS).

With the first Indian Peptide Symposium scheduled to commence on February 22-23 at the Agricultural University Campus in Hyderabad, Prof. Chauhan said, there are several scientific groups engaged in various aspects of peptide research in India located at the Indian Institute of Sciences (IISc.), Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI), Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), Indian Institute of Technology (IITs), International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), National Institute of Immunology (NII) and the All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

Among the companies engaged in the peptide research and manufacture are Jupiter Biosciences in Hyderabad (raw materials), Dabur, Sun Pharma and Techno Concept (commenced production of synthetic peptides).

The peptide research has lead to many product commercialisations and there are more than 40 peptide-based drugs in the market and many others are under clinical trials.

Coming to the ICGEB efforts in this space, Prof Chauhan stated
"Peptides, which are small portions of proteins, can be developed as vaccines. The key issue is to determine the crucial sequence of the protein antigen and to design a peptide representing that sequence. Antibodies raised to such sequences can be protective against viruses, bacteria and other pathogens. This is an active area of research for ICGEB."

While there is a demand for vaccines with peptides, its development against diseases like malaria, HIV etc. is a complex process. From the time of antigen discovery to a vaccine development and trials thereafter can take up to 15 years, pointed our Prof. Chauhan.

In the international arena, peptide research, product development and commercialisation are way ahead. The companies in USA and European Union are highly advanced and India too already has huge potential for the future going by the pace of progress done in the field, stated Prof Chauhan.

Since the opportunities offered by peptides as a subject matter for scientific investigation, research, technology development and commercialisation has prompted the establishment of the Indian Peptide Society in June 2006 to bring together scientists, technologists and entrepreneurs on a common platform to take forward the unlimited potential offered by peptides. The Society is gearing up to establish potential associations with the other peptide societies across the globe like the American Peptide Society and Japanese Peptide Society, there are unlimited promising avenues on the cards.