The Telangana government which is already having Asia’s largest clusters for pharmaceutical and life sciences in the state is contemplating to further expand the existing Genome Valley cluster by creating Genome Valley 2.0. “Genome Valley cluster is among the largest life sciences clusters in Asia and we want to strengthen it and take a dominant position,” said K. T. Rama Rao, Minister for Industries, IT and MAUD, while talking at the recently concluded BioAsia event in Hyderabad.

At present the Genome Valley, life sciences and biotechnology hub located on the outskirts of Hyderabad, is home to more than 200 different biotechnology companies offering employment to more than 10,000 skilled workers in the state.

Major companies like Novartis, GSK, Sanofi, Ferring Pharma, Chemo, DuPoint, Ashland, United States Pharmacopeia, Lona and many others have established their centres in the Valley.  Expanding the ecosystem for the biotechnology and related companies, the Minister stressed on the need to further expand the Genome Valley to Genome Valley 2.0, for which, he said, the government will initiate a master plan for the expansion of the cluster.

Expressing his desire to make the Genome Valley as a launch pad for the industry, the minister welcomed new investments and innovators becoming partners in the expansion of the Genome Valley project.

Earlier, during the past two days from 22-24, the 15th edition of BioAsia event reverberated with delegates, conferences, deliberations, exhibitions and conclaves wherein more than 1,757 delegates from healthcare, biotech, pharma, life-sciences, IT, academia and startups representing over 52 countries with 100 high profile speakers and 500 corporates participated.

Around 1,250 partnering meetings were conducted on the sidelines of the event leading to key strategic decisions. At a fireside chat, Suresh Prabhu, Minister of Commerce & Industry Govt. of India and KT Rama Rao, Minister of Industries & Commerce, Govt. of Telangana deliberated on the future of the pharmaceutical industry and the opportunities that lie ahead in the domestic and international markets. Prabhu said, “India has become the pharma capital of the world and is helping many countries with affordable drugs and vaccines. Our industry should be positioned to take advantage of new technology and changing demographics.”

In the course of 3 days of BioAsia 2018, KT Rama Rao had several positive discussions with leaders from renowned lifesciences companies including Merck & Co, Biocon, GE Healthcare, Chemo Group and others. While commenting on the success of BioAsia 2018, Rao said, “The 15th edition of BioAsia saw tremendous traction and some significant issues on lifesciences being deliberated. Telangana state also had the opportunity to host and strengthen its relationship with several lifesciences companies. A number of recommendations in terms of policy recommendations, initiatives, etc have emerged from the discussions I have had with the Industry Leaders and we are committed to pursuing these with the Government of India to enable an environment that compliments growth for the sector.”

The event saw a large delegation from regulatory agencies like FDA, MHRA and EMA, encouraged by this, the organizers are hopeful that they would cross further milestones in 2019.