Epoetin Alfa

Mumbai: Hyderabad is a unique city. The scores of shining glass towers that have come up in the last two decades reflect its urgency to progress in science and technology. GCCs have become synonymous to the city with most large companies pouring significant investments. What started as a trickle with Novartis in 2012 has morphed into a big opportunity. Amgen , a marquee US-biotech giant is the latest in the growing count to commit an investment of USD200 million for what it calls as a technology and innovation centre that will help find new medical treatments. These decisions renew the excitement of enterprise in and around the city of Hyderabad. The spirit to push the boundaries of innovation is distinct in almost everyone who is part of the life sciences sector. To see that change, there is no better forum than BioAsia , a gathering of Indian and global pharma and biotech professionals that has come to be seen as a must-attend conference over the last two decades. This year Robert Bradway, CEO, Amgen gave the keynote where he alluded to the significant strides in biotech research. He spoke on how Amgen was among the earliest biotech groups that brought out breakthroughs like epoetin alfa and filgrastim. Over the two days, riveting discussions brought to the fore new insights on the state of the Indian pharmaceutical/biotech industry. As the buzz grew, some vital highlights stood out. Cranking up the innovation engine: That was the critical theme cutting across panel discussions. While the topic has been coming around multiple times in myriad ways, not much has really moved that is worth talking about. But green shoots are clearly for those who are up for the long haul are sharpening their skills. The overall setting seems optimistic with the governments, both at the central and state levels, showing the same intent as the industry. Is there any option left now? India was seen in a race against China about two decades ago. That race doesn’t exist now. It is rather an imperative with China leapfrogging, having modelled itself for success. It has reversed the game from bringing innovation to China to now licensing out its own molecules to global drug makers. It is getting an unprecedented deal flow and finding new ways of striking partnerships like the latest NewCos. Chinese biotechs are smarter not just in finding better drugs and therapies but also understanding the business better, like it or not. They are constantly taking new approaches. India is doing the catch up, forever. On the CEO panel with noted business journalist Govindraj Ethiraj, Dr. Satyanarayana Chava, founder/CEO, Laurus spoke about the bets his company took on ImmunoAct , India’s first CAR-T maker. Credit to him, Laurus is not the first name that comes when one thinks of innovative drugs. Others who should have, paid less attention to the tsunami of new CAR-Ts that are in research. He noted any US or European enterprise with the same technology and scientific calibre would have garnered a valuation of $3-$4 billion but that’s not in how they see India! That image will take some time and effort to change. G V Prasad, Co-chairman and Managing Director, Dr. Reddy’s Labs was sanguine despite the heavy task of pursuing research. He asserted how innovation is at the heart of Dr. Reddy’s, a move that was first made by late Dr. Anji Reddy back in 1994. He spoke about the ups and downs of that journey, referring to “The Unfinished Agenda ,” the book by late Dr. Anji Reddy that details how the company was arduously built over the years. A statement from Prasad that moved the audience was: He (Dr. Anji Reddy) started on the path of innovation much before others and the book he wrote is titled The Unfinished Agenda . Innovation is not an easy thing to do. Even now I am struggling to see success and I am 64 now. I am trying to finish that Unfinished Agenda and I am hoping that happens in my lifetime. CRDMO – This is an opportunity that is still unfolding. Here again there is a big Chinese wall to climb. Speakers were clear on the point that too many regulatory stringencies hampered the prospects for India. Any tweaks to a compound take several months for clearances. In fact, a speaker off-record said even when a product is simply in transition without any manufacturing additions requires to be cleared by the government. How can a fast-moving industry deal with such bureaucratic delays and still stay competitive against aggressive global players? Is this ease of doing business? AI and speeding up of research: This topic came up across discussions on and off the podium. Particularly interesting was how Novartis’ Hyderabad drug development unit saved significant time identifying specific trial participants for an experimental drug that needed additional data for global regulatory submissions. AI is real and the faster it is mainstreamed in India the better. There are imperfections, as is with all things new, but sitting on the fringes and watching won’t make sense. Clinical Trials: Irony is that this topic was in discussions two decades ago and is still being pondered upon. There is a clear loss of opportunity with the status quo and speakers are being bold in saying this. Australia, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and more importantly Korea – all these countries are moving fast, doing hundreds of clinical studies while India, with a huge diverse population and growing burden of diseases has hardly kept pace, if not just regressed. Myths that need to be busted – clinical trials and India do not need to be always seen with a lens of guinea pigs. With a strong regulatory apparatus (following sweeping reforms of 2019), a lot has changed. Most importantly, as speakers noted, by not doing clinical trials, global companies have turned away and have started filling up the India slots for volunteers and patients from other countries. Who is the loser? Patients get no access to new treatments and drugs, particularly in the exploding oncology segment, are never brought to the Indian shores. Also, the big perception of India being a low cost location of trials is fading away fast. The wait begins for more action at BioAsia 2026. The theme for BioAsia 2025 was Catalyst for change. Will things change? This article is written by Vikas Dandekar, Editor, ET Pharma and ET Healthworld. (DISCLAIMER: The views expressed are solely of the author and ETHealthworld.com does not necessarily subscribe to it. ETHealthworld.com shall not be responsible for any damage caused to any person/organisation directly or indirectly) By Vikas Dandekar ,

Mumbai: Hyderabad is a unique city. The scores of shining glass towers that have come up in the last two decades reflect its urgency to progress in science and technology. GCCs have become synonymous to the city with most large companies pouring significant investments. What started as a trickle with Novartis in 2012 has morphed into a big opportunity. Amgen , a marquee US-biotech giant is the latest in the growing count to commit an investment of USD200 million for what it calls as a technology and innovation centre that will help find new medical treatments. These decisions renew the excitement of enterprise in and around the city of Hyderabad. The spirit to push the boundaries of innovation is distinct in almost everyone who is part of the life sciences sector. To see that change, there is no better forum than BioAsia , a gathering of Indian and global pharma and biotech professionals that has come to be seen as a must-attend conference over the last two decades. This year Robert Bradway, CEO, Amgen gave the keynote where he alluded to the significant strides in biotech research. He spoke on how Amgen was among the earliest biotech groups that brought out breakthroughs like epoetin alfa and filgrastim. Over the two days, riveting discussions brought to the fore new insights on the state of the Indian pharmaceutical/biotech industry. As the buzz grew, some vital highlights stood out. Cranking up the innovation engine: That was the critical theme cutting across panel discussions. While the topic has been coming around multiple times in myriad ways, not much has really moved that is worth talking about. But green shoots are clearly for those who are up for the long haul are sharpening their skills. The overall setting seems optimistic with the governments, both at the central and state levels, showing the same intent as the industry. Is there any option left now? India was seen in a race against China about two decades ago. That race doesn’t exist now. It is rather an imperative with China leapfrogging, having modelled itself for success. It has reversed the game from bringing innovation to China to now licensing out its own molecules to global drug makers. It is getting an unprecedented deal flow and finding new ways of striking partnerships like the latest NewCos. Chinese biotechs are smarter not just in finding better drugs and therapies but also understanding the business better, like it or not. They are constantly taking new approaches. India is doing the catch up, forever. On the CEO panel with noted business journalist Govindraj Ethiraj, Dr. Satyanarayana Chava, founder/CEO, Laurus spoke about the bets his company took on ImmunoAct , India’s first CAR-T maker. Credit to him, Laurus is not the first name that comes when one thinks of innovative drugs. Others who should have, paid less attention to the tsunami of new CAR-Ts that are in research. He noted any US or European enterprise with the same technology and scientific calibre would have garnered a valuation of $3-$4 billion but that’s not in how they see India! That image will take some time and effort to change. G V Prasad, Co-chairman and Managing Director, Dr. Reddy’s Labs was sanguine despite the heavy task of pursuing research. He asserted how innovation is at the heart of Dr. Reddy’s, a move that was first made by late Dr. Anji Reddy back in 1994. He spoke about the ups and downs of that journey, referring to “The Unfinished Agenda ,” the book by late Dr. Anji Reddy that details how the company was arduously built over the years. A statement from Prasad that moved the audience was: He (Dr. Anji Reddy) started on the path of innovation much before others and the book he wrote is titled The Unfinished Agenda. Innovation is not an easy thing to do. Even now I am struggling to see success and I am 64 now. I am trying to finish that Unfinished Agenda and I am hoping that happens in my lifetime. CRDMO – This is an opportunity that is still unfolding. Here again there is a big Chinese wall to climb. Speakers were clear on the point that too many regulatory stringencies hampered the prospects for India. Any tweaks to a compound take several months for clearances. In fact, a speaker off-record said even when a product is simply in transition without any manufacturing additions requires to be cleared by the government. How can a fast-moving industry deal with such bureaucratic delays and still stay competitive against aggressive global players? Is this ease of doing business? AI and speeding up of research: This topic came up across discussions on and off the podium. Particularly interesting was how Novartis’ Hyderabad drug development unit saved significant time identifying specific trial participants for an experimental drug that needed additional data for global regulatory submissions. AI is real and the faster it is mainstreamed in India the better. There are imperfections, as is with all things new, but sitting on the fringes and watching won’t make sense. Clinical Trials: Irony is that this topic was in discussions two decades ago and is still being pondered upon. There is a clear loss of opportunity with the status quo and speakers are being bold in saying this. Australia, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and more importantly Korea – all these countries are moving fast, doing hundreds of clinical studies while India, with a huge diverse population and growing burden of diseases has hardly kept pace, if not just regressed. Myths that need to be busted – clinical trials and India do not need to be always seen with a lens of guinea pigs. With a strong regulatory apparatus (following sweeping reforms of 2019), a lot has changed. Most importantly, as speakers noted, by not doing clinical trials, global companies have turned away and have started filling up the India slots for volunteers and patients from other countries. Who is the loser? Patients get no access to new treatments and drugs, particularly in the exploding oncology segment, are never brought to the Indian shores. Also, the big perception of India being a low cost location of trials is fading away fast. The wait begins for more action at BioAsia 2026. The theme for BioAsia 2025 was Catalyst for change. Will things change? This article is written by Vikas Dandekar, Editor, ET Pharma and ET Healthworld. (DISCLAIMER: The views expressed are solely of the author and ETHealthworld.com does not necessarily subscribe to it. ETHealthworld.com shall not be responsible for any damage caused to any person/organisation directly or indirectly) By Vikas Dandekar ,