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A large number of women, at present, are excelling in their respective fields such as DESIGN PVT. LTD. pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, clinical research, biotechnology and rising as exemplary figures while
putting in their best efforts in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, the majority of
countries that have been more successful in stemming the tide of the pandemic and responding
to its health and broader socio-economic impacts, are headed by women. BioSpectrum India
brings to you 11 women leaders in the life sciences sector, who are making us proud by combating COVID-19, as we celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8.

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Published by MMA Media, 2021-02-27 01:41:26

Leading From The Front - BioSpectrum India March 2021

A large number of women, at present, are excelling in their respective fields such as DESIGN PVT. LTD. pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, clinical research, biotechnology and rising as exemplary figures while
putting in their best efforts in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, the majority of
countries that have been more successful in stemming the tide of the pandemic and responding
to its health and broader socio-economic impacts, are headed by women. BioSpectrum India
brings to you 11 women leaders in the life sciences sector, who are making us proud by combating COVID-19, as we celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8.

Keywords: Business ,Women in Pharma

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4 BIO CONTENT BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2021 | www.biospectrumindia.com

COVERSTORY 22 COVER
DESIGN BY:
LEADING DOMINIX STRATEGIC
DESIGN PVT. LTD.
THE FROFNROMT

A large number of women, at present, are excelling in their respective fields such as
pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, clinical research, biotechnology and rising as exemplary figures while
putting in their best efforts in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, the majority of
countries that have been more successful in stemming the tide of the pandemic and responding
to its health and broader socio-economic impacts, are headed by women. BioSpectrum India
brings to you 11 women leaders in the life sciences sector, who are making us proud by combating
COVID-19, as we celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8.

SUCHITRA ELLA PRATIBHA DR KRIPA DR A. MALATHI MITALI PATIL
KUMARI RAI MURZELLO

DR GEETHA SOWMYA KAUR CHANDRA GANJOO DR JANANI
MANJUNATH VENKATRAMAN

DR DEBJANI SAHA DR PRITI V. WARKE

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2021 | www.biospectrumindia.com BIO CONTENT 5

UNION BUDGET 2021-22 TOPVIDEO

18 Dr Tanweer
Shahid, Consultant
Budget 2021 takes many Oncologist, Apollo
steps forward and a few back Gleneagles Hospital,
Kolkata talks about
INDUSTRYREPORT how clinical decision
support tools are
31 helping clinicians to
overcome medical
Indian medical device and diagnostics errors.
market hits Rs 77,540 Cr in 2019-20
Scan the QR Code »
Q&A
Ranjeet Koul, Vice
39 President and
Country Manager
“We support scientists APAC & MEA, Aeris
in all regions researching Communications,
and developing vaccines Gurugram shares
against COVID” his views on the
Eva van Pelt, IoT industry trends
in 2021 for the life
Co-CEO & Chief Commercial Officer, sciences sector.
Eppendorf AG, Hamburg, Germany
Scan the QR Code »
41
Tony Jose,
“Peptide purification Co-Founder &
market is underserved by CEO, Clevergene,
traditional resin suppliers” Bengaluru throws
Jonathan Royce, light on the skill
gaps within the
Chief Executive Officer, genomics industry.
Bio-Works Technologies AB, Sweden
Scan the QR Code »
DIGITALIZATION

43

Pharma R&D:
Taking the digital route
Arno Tellmann,

Head of Novartis Global Drug
Development (GDD), India, Hyderabad

REGULARS

BioEdit .....................................................................................06
BioMail ....................................................................................08
Policy and Regulatory News................................................09
Company News.....................................................................10
Finance News.........................................................................12
Start-up News........................................................................13
World News............................................................................15
WHO News..............................................................................17
People News...........................................................................44
R&D News...............................................................................46
Academic News.....................................................................48
Supplier News........................................................................49

6 BIO EDIT BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2021 | www.biospectrumindia.com

Budgetary paradox

From Rs 94,452 crore to Rs 2,23,846 crore, the health allocation of Rs 2,23,846 crore includes
a whopping 137 per cent rise, surely is a big amounts budgeted for single time expenditure of Rs
jump in the allocation for ‘healthcare and 35,000 crore for COVID-19 vaccine, Rs 60,030 crore
wellbeing pillar’ in the Union Budget 2021-22. allocated for drinking water and sanitation and also
Such a move is to effectively offset the impact of finance commission’s grants of approximately Rs
COVID-19 and the inadequacies in our healthcare 50,000 crore for water, sanitation and health. It also
system. includes nutrition and Ayush budget allocations of
Rs 2,700 crore and Rs 2,970 crore, respectively.
This allocation particularly looks impressive
and effective against the National Health Profile Finally, what remains purely for Department
(NHP) data of 2019, which reveals that India spent of Health and Family Welfare is Rs 71,269 crore
just 1.5 per cent and 1.8 per cent in 2019-20 and and for Department of Health Research is Rs 2,663
2020-21 respectively of Gross Domestic Product crore. The increase in the research budget over last
(GDP) on public health. It is among the lowest any year’s budgeted figure is just Rs 563 crore.
government spends on health in the world. This
has a direct bearing on out-of- pocket-expenditure The Health and Family Welfare budget is
(OOPE) of the people as it can be seen that India is increased from last year’s budget figure of Rs 65,012
among the top 10 countries having highest OOPE. crore by mere Rs 6,257 crore, which is only 9.6 per
The National Health Policy of 2017 set the target of cent. But this increase is also not true. The revised
spending 2.5 per cent of GDP on health by 2025. A budget estimate of 2020-21 done on the basis of
high-level expert group had suggested that the target actual expenditure is Rs 78,866 crore. Compared
should be achieved by 2020. Three per cent of GDP to that, the budget allocation for the next fiscal year
allocation for health can bring down OOPE from 60 is reduced by Rs 7,597 crore, which is 9.6 per cent
to 30 per cent, according to the Economic Survey. less. The FM has cleverly created a pillar of Health
& Wellbeing by adding all peripheral allocation
Finance Minister (FM) Nirmala Sitharaman’s together to take the allocation to 137 per cent more.
proposed rise in health budget allocation looks
impressive considering the above. Particularly, when Allocation for Telemedicine and the health
it is accompanied by announcement of a proposed, insurance scheme Ayushman Bharat, aimed at
new centrally sponsored scheme, ‘PM AtmaNirbhar reducing OOPE, continues at Rs 45 crore and Rs
Swasth Bharat Yojana’. It includes developing 6,400 crore respectively. Considering that India
capacities of primary, secondary, and tertiary care is among top 10 countries in OOPE, even this
health systems, strengthening existing national allocation needed a steady rise. Even Telemedicine
institutions, and creating new institutions. It will needed more money in view of its growing
also cater to detection and cure of new and emerging importance due to COVID-19. The National Rural
diseases, providing support for 17,788 rural and Health Mission saw a moderate hike of six per cent
11,024 urban Health and Wellness Centers, setting from last year. Rs 124 crore budgeted for pharma
up integrated public health labs in all districts and industry development is important and may help in
3382 block public health units in 11 states, with an reducing our dependence on China for imports.
impressive outlay of about Rs 64,180 crore. But,
that is to be spent over six years, thus providing While making a jugglery of figures in the budget
approximately Rs 10,000 crore each year. There it is necessary to remember what Jack Lew, former
appears to be no allocation for the next year. Still, US Secretary of Treasury, said, “The budget is not
this is a welcome proposal as it is expected to bring just a collection of numbers, but an expression of
enhancement in basic health infrastructure. our values and aspirations.”

Upon close examination, it becomes clear that Milind Kokje
Chief Editor

[email protected]



8 BIO MAIL BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2021 | www.biospectrumindia.com

Vol 1; Issue 2; February 2021

Acknowledgements I reviewed the rankings and also
cross checked some of the companies
Thank you so much for the feature on related to sales revenue. Your figures
Biological E in the Biopharma ranking are correct. I must compliment
survey 2019-20. BioSpectrum team for a very
meticulous work. I sincerely appreciate.
- Vijay Kammari, Hyderabad
- K V Balasubramaniam,
Indian Immunologicals is thankful for Hyderabad
the feature and co-ordination for the
biopharma ranking. Thank you for the interaction with
Sanofi India for the Biopharma ranking
- Dr K Anand Kumar, Hyderabad survey.

Appreciate the report on Bharat Biotech - Vinifer Gandhi, Mumbai
in the biopharma survey.
- Muralidharan Palakal, Hyderabad

Vol 19; Issue 3; March 2021 MM Activ Sci-Tech Communications

Publisher & Managing Editor: South Region New Delhi INTERNATIONAL
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 Readers are advised to  Views expressed in advertisements in
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to advertisements necessarily claim to give no warranty and
appearing in this accept no responsibility
publication. The Printer,
Publisher, Editor and

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2021 | www.biospectrumindia.com POLICY AND REGULATORY NEWS 9

Health Ministry steps up to reduce leprosy burden

Yohei Sasakawa WHO Goodwill flipchart effectively. This training burden. Lack of public awareness
Ambassador for Leprosy package will strengthen ASHA’s about leprosy is one of the major
Elimination, Sasakawa Leprosy skills in facilitating early case problems that India is facing in its
(Hansen’s Disease) Initiative, detection and treatment, which is efforts against the disease. These
National Leprosy Eradication key for further reducing disease pictorial learning materials will
Programme (NLEP) of the assist ASHAs to develop a correct
Ministry of Health and Family understanding of the disease and
Welfare of India (MoHFW), and encourage community members
WHO India have jointly launched to support their activities. The
a pictorial flipchart on leprosy for National Leprosy Eradication
Accredited Social Health Activists Programme is focusing on early
(ASHAs). In conjunction with and active detection of leprosy
this launch, WHO India will be cases in order to ensure complete
releasing short online animation treatment, prevention of physical
films in regional languages for disabilities and to stop the
ASHAs to learn how to use this community transmission.

Govt opens institute for Assam boosts
science communication
& policy research healthcare set up

The government has opened a new institute of Council of for COVID-19
Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) i.e. CSIR-National
Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research Health Department of Assam has joined
(CSIR-NIScPR), in New Delhi. The new institute has been hands with Godrej Consumer Products
established consequent to the merger of two prestigious Limited (GCPL), a leading emerging
institutes of CSIR namely, CSIR-National Institute of markets company, to boost the healthcare
Science Communication and Information Resources infrastructure of hospitals handling
(CSIR-NISCAIR) and CSIR-National Institute of Science, COVID-19 cases. The relief efforts, part of
Technology and Development Studies (CSIR-NISTADS), GCPL’s CSR initiative, comprises of setting
which work at the interface of science and technology up 38 ICU beds at Gauhati Medical College
(S&T) and Society; and Science Communication and Policy and Hospital (GMCH) along with adequate
Research. The purpose of this merger is to combine the supply of Godrej Protekt sanitisers. The
strength of the two institutes in a synergistic way with a total investment behind these initiatives
vision for India to become a globally respected think tank is more than Rs 28 lakh. This is one of the
and resource centre for understanding science, technology multiple initiatives undertaken by GCPL to
and innovation (STI), policy research and communication. help provide support to healthcare workers
and COVID-19 patients as they continue
their tireless fight against the pandemic.
In addition, the Assam government has
received a financial assistance of over Rs
262 crore from the Centre for management
of the pandemic and rolling out the
vaccination drive.

10 COMPANY NEWS BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2021 | www.biospectrumindia.com

TCGLS announces Roche
expansion of operations in US
Diagnostics
Kolkata based TCG Lifesciences reaction optimisation, and
(TCGLS), a company controlled continuous chemistry to support unveils Elecsys
by New York-based The the needs of the big pharma
Chatterjee Group (TCG), has and biotech industry. TCG Anti-SARS-
announced the expansion of GreenChem, Inc is developing
its operations in the US with novel, efficient and low-cost CoV-2 S test
the establishment of TCG processes for selected COVID-19
GreenChem Inc, a subsidiary virus-related medicines and in India
of TCGLS, to provide contract other antiviral drugs using
development and manufacturing new technologies and process Roche Diagnostics India has
company (CDMO) services to schemes under contract with announced the launch of its
global clients. TCG GreenChem, research foundations/hospitals, antibody test SARS-CoV-2 test-
Inc, offers seamless CMC US Government, and selected Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S.
development services including biotech companies. It is also The test is CE IVD approved and
process research & development engaged with developing several has received Indian Council of
and delivery of cGMP APIs. selected drugs with backward Medical Research (ICMR) and
It aims at utilising its deep integration all the way to the Central Drugs Standard Control
expertise in areas of automated starting materials within US Organisation (CDSCO) approval
catalysis/reaction screening, shores. in India. It is an in vitro test that
quantifies antibodies against the
Biocon to deliver receptor-binding domain (RBD)
advanced cancer therapies of spike (S) protein SARS-CoV-2
across 30 countries in human serum and plasma, and
determines the body’s immune
Biocon Biologics, a fully patients, who need them the most response to the virus. The Elecsys
integrated pure play biosimilars and ensuring equitable access to Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S targets
company and a subsidiary of high-quality biosimilars in low- antibodies, which are directed
Biocon has signed an agreement and middle-income countries against the particular region of the
with the Clinton Health Access (LMICs). Biocon Biologics’ viral spike protein responsible for
Initiative (CHAI) to expand strong R&D and manufacturing binding to the host cell receptor,
access to lifesaving cancer capabilities have enabled the which is required for the virus to
biosimilars in over 30 countries company to offer affordable enter the host cell. The Elecsys
in Africa and Asia as a part of biologics such as bTrastuzumab Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S immunoassay
the Cancer Access Partnership and bPegfilgrastim to cancer runs on Roche’s widely available
(CAP). The partnership is a patients in developed markets cobas e analysers, and these fully
significant step in delivering like the European Union (EU) automated systems can provide
advanced cancer therapies to and the United States (US). SARS-Cov-2 test results in
approximately 18 minutes for one
test, with a test throughput of up
to 300 tests/hour, depending on
the analyser.

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2021 | www.biospectrumindia.com COMPANY NEWS 11

GSK, PATH, Bharat Immuneel Therapeutics
Biotech join hands for
novel malaria vaccine opens integrated

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), PATH (formerly known as cell therapy facility
Program for Appropriate Technology in Health), and
Bharat Biotech (BB) have announced the signing of a Immuneel Therapeutics has announced the
product transfer agreement for the malaria vaccine, inauguration of India’s first integrated cell
RTS,S/AS01E 1. The agreement includes the transfer of therapy development and manufacturing facility
manufacturing of the RTS,S antigen part of the vaccine in Bengaluru. Located in Narayana Hrudayalaya
and the grant of a license on all rights pertaining to Health City, the 12,000-sq. ft. integrated facility
the RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine to BB. GSK will includes a state-of-the-art laboratory, cGMP-
retain the production of the adjuvant of the vaccine compliant manufacturing suites, which will bring
(AS01E) and will supply it to BB. The RTS,S/AS01E breakthrough cell and gene therapies to millions
malaria vaccine, developed by GSK for more than 30 of patients in India. The facility is compliant with
years, and in partnership with PATH since 2001, is Indian Gene Therapy Product (GTP) guidelines
currently being piloted in regions of Ghana, Kenya, and released in 2019 and Global cGMP guidelines for
Malawi under the Malaria Vaccine Implementation advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMP)
Programme (MVIP). Ministries of health are leading published by EMA and USFDA with a focus on
the implementation of the vaccine, which is being manufacturing and quality systems specific to
given to young children through the three countries’ cell therapies. This multi-product multi-process
routine immunisation programmes, with WHO facility will currently focus on autologous cell
providing technical and scientific leadership, playing therapies including CAR-T cell therapy for
a coordinating role, and working in collaboration with lymphomas & leukemias (haeme malignancies)
GSK, PATH, and a range of other partners.  and in future other forms of solid tumors,
allogeneic cell therapy and beyond cell therapy
and oncology in future.

Form IV (See Rule 8)

Statement of ownership and other particulars about the newspaper BioSpectrum to be published in the first issue every year after
last day of February.

1. Place of Publication : Pune

2. Periodicity of Publication : Monthly

3. Printer’s Name : Mr. Ravindra Vidyadhar Boratkar

Whether Citizen of India : Yes

Address : “Ashirwad”, 1st Floor, 36/A/2, S. No. 270, Pallod Farms, Baner Road, Pune – 411 045.

4. Publisher’s Name : Mr. Ravindra Vidyadhar Boratkar

Whether Citizen of India : Yes

Address : “Ashirwad”, 1st Floor, 36/N2, S. No. 270, Pallod Farms, Baner Road, Pune – 411 045.

5. Editor’s Name : Mr. Narayan Kulkarni

Whether Citizen of India : Yes

Address : Ashirwad, 36/A/2, S.No. 270, Pallod Farms,
Near Bank of Baroda, Baner Road, Pune- 411045.


6. Name & addresses of individuals who own the newspaper, and partners or shareholders holding more than one percent
of the total paid-up capital.

Name : Mr. Jagdish Balkrishna Patankar
Address : B-55, Mahavir Park Society, Pune - Satara Road, Pune – 411037.

Name : Mr. Ravindra Vidyadhar Boratkar
Address : 402, Siddhivinayak Apartment, Khare Town, Dharam Peth, Nagpur – 440010.

Name : Mr. Vijay Padmakar Thombre
Address : 1, Sagar Apartment, 6 Mahaganesh Society Paud Road, Kothrud, Pune – 411038.

I, Ravindra Vidyadhar Boratkar , hereby declare that the particulars given above are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Sd/-
Publisher

12 FINANCE NEWS BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2021 | www.biospectrumindia.com

Carlyle Group, Brighton Park Capital buys stakes in Indegene for $200M

The Carlyle Group, Brighton network and deep pharmaceutical understanding of its space,
Park Capital and Indegene, expertise, coupled with Brighton makes the two firms the ideal
the Bengaluru headquartered Park’s deep experience in the partners to support Indegene’s
enterprise health tech solutions technology sector and nuanced continued growth. Over the last
provider, have announced decade, Indegene has made
that Carlyle and Brighton Park significant organic and inorganic
Capital will acquire minority investments in building a
stakes in the company for $200 technology portfolio that caters
million. The transaction, which is exclusively to healthcare. This has
subject to customary regulatory enabled the company to grow at
approvals, consists of a secondary more than 25 per cent revenue
sale from existing shareholders CAGR over a decade. This growth
of Indegene and a primary rate is accelerating with strong
investment into the company. industry tailwinds driving a
Carlyle’s commitment to the rapid shift towards digital-first
healthcare sector with their global operations.

Nova IVF Fertility Advent International
picks majority stake
announces investment in ZCL Chemicals

for expansion Advent International, one of the largest and most
experienced global private equity investors based in the US,
Asia Healthcare Holdings owned Nova IVF has announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to
Fertility, which is India’s leading fertility acquire a majority stake in Mumbai based ZCL Chemicals
chain has announced the expansion of Limited, one the fastest growing pharmaceutical
their network in NCR through strategic companies in India. The business was formerly known
partnership with Southend Fertility & IVF, as Zandu Chemicals Ltd. With this transaction, Morgan
a leading IVF player in Delhi NCR. Through Stanley Private Equity Asia (MSPEA), a private equity
this investment, Nova IVF Fertility will have platform that previously managed a minority investment
a majority stake in Southend Fertility & IVF. in ZCL, will exit their investment. ZCL is one of the fastest
The combined entity will have a significant growing manufacturers of specialty active pharmaceutical
presence in Delhi NCR with a network of ingredients (APIs) and advanced intermediates. Over the
4 comprehensive IVF centres including last 12 months, Advent has committed over $1.2 billion
embryology labs, network of spoke centres, a globally across the healthcare sector. The firm has also
team of senior IVF clinicians and a capacity committed over $600 million in four Indian businesses
to perform more than 3500 IVF cycles over the same period in varied sectors such as healthcare,
annually in that region. Nova IVF Fertility consumer, and financial services amongst others.
(NIF) was launched in 2011, through its
decade long collaboration with IVI Spain, the
company established a standardized clinical
and embryology model, which is being
practiced across its network. The scientific
contribution of the company has set multiple
benchmarks including the first IVF saviour
sibling in the country.

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2021 | www.biospectrumindia.com START UP NEWS 13

IIMB initiates first Estonian health
startup announces new
cohort of healthcare partnerships in India

incubation programme Within a month of setting its footprint in the Indian
market, Estonia based global e-health innovator company
The N S Raghavan Centre for Viveo Health, has announced two major partnerships
Entrepreneurial Learning (NSRCEL), with the Indian companies Doceree and Credihealth.
the startup hub at IIM, Bangalore, Trusted by thousands of health professionals in over 40
has recently completed applications countries around the world, Viveo Health is committed to
to the first cohort of the Healthcare provide world-class telemedicine solutions to the doctors
Incubation Programme. The and healthcare professionals in India. Viveo Health has
programme is designed to support partnered with New Delhi based Doceree to set-up digital
ideation to proof-of-concept stage clinics for over 3 lakh doctors. Digital clinics will be a
ventures, who have the potential to virtual office platform for doctors that would be offered
increase access and affordability of free of charge by Viveo Health to doctors and other medical
healthcare in India. With the NSRCEL professionals. To make healthcare more accessible and
healthcare incubation programme, affordable in India, Viveo Health has partnered with
both clinicians and hospitals can Gurugram based Credihealth. The partnership will enable
engage with startups, and mentor and 35000 doctors to connect with over 10 million patients
monitor the progress of those startups, annually and further boost the confidence of patients and
which can contribute to their strategic their family members, as they get personalised guidance
objectives. Early-stage ventures will be from a team of medical experts.
shortlisted for a three-month long pre-
incubation phase of the programme,
where they will be guided by mentors
through need assessment, one-on-one
interactions and workshops. Post pre-
incubation, the ventures will be given
an opportunity to pitch to NSRCEL for
a 12-month incubation programme.
The participants of the NSRCEL
Healthcare Programme will receive
continued support after programme
completion through webinars,
masterclasses, guest lectures, and
workshops.

Digital health startup MFine triples investment in AI

Bengaluru based digital health integration; expanding its hospital
startup MFine has raised $16 network across the country;
million in a new funding round scaling the recently launched
led by Heritas Capital with services, which include delivering
participation from Singapore- medicines, preventive health
based family office of Y’S screenings and diagnostic tests.
Investment Pte Ltd. Existing The investors see huge potential
MFine investors including SBI MFine’s state-of-the-art AI and
Investment, SBI Ven Capital, mobile technology platform and
BEENEXT and Alteria Capital its ability to scale beyond India
have also followed-on in the as COVID-19 has accelerated the
round. MFine will deploy the funds use of telemedicine and digital
towards tripling its investments in health in India and other regions
AI, mobile engineering and device in South East Asia.

14 START UP NEWS BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2021 | www.biospectrumindia.com

Health tech startup MediBuddy wraps up
Quali55care raises
seed funding $40M Series B round

Mumbai based vendor aggregator of durable MediBuddy has announced the closure of its
medical equipment has raised seed funding via $40 million Series B round. This follows the
India Accelerator’s Angel Investor Network, which recent infusion of $20 million led by India Life
invests in promising startups. The seed capital will Sciences Fund III, LLC, with participation from
be utilised by Quali55care to strengthen and establish other investors. The digital healthcare platform
tech support to enable smarter delivery by creating had earlier announced an initial funding of
an AI-based recommendation engine for end-users. $20 million in June 2020 under this round.
Quali55Care also aims to create a larger inventory The potential of the Bengaluru based startup
pool across various geographic locations and improve MediBuddy platform has generated significant
the value proposition by building an ecosystem. India investor interest in the Series B round despite
Accelerator incubated Quali55care in their Summer the uncertainty prevalent worldwide, helping
Cohort Programme 2020 and has also lead this it secure the highest funding in the digital
investment round through its iAngels Network. After healthcare space since the start of the pandemic.
being bootstrapped for almost two years now and The digital healthcare platform will utilise the
achieving product-market fit, the startup plans to look funding in further strengthening its doctor and
for funding to scale and materialize its vision with the hospital base, patient reach, product, technology
aim to provide simplified recovery by all means. and brand to move a step closer to its mission
of providing high-quality healthcare to a billion
people.

Mental health startup InnerHour gets $5.2M fund influx

In a historic first, Mumbai amongst others. InnerHour
based startup InnerHour will use this funding to scale
has raised $5.2 million from their technology-led mental
Lightbox and others, making health platform, as it’s set
this the largest fundraise in to serve a section of the 200
the Indian mental health million Indians currently
ecosystem till date. Lightbox suffering from mental health
led the funding with an conditions. In this next phase
investment of $4.5 million, of development, Dr Amit
with other angels including Malik, Founder and CEO,
Capricorn Ventures & Micasa InnerHour is joined by Neha
Investments (Singapore), Kirpal, Co-Founder as they
Pankaj Sahni, CEO, Medanta build a full stack offering,
– The Medicity Hospitals, focused on the varying needs
Hitesh Oberoi, CEO & MD, of individual users across the
Info Edge India Pvt Ltd entire care continuum.

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2021 | www.biospectrumindia.com WORLD NEWS 15

Sri Lanka boosts defence against vector-borne diseases

To help control vectors and Training and Services in Medical facilitate the development and use
strengthen Sri Lanka’s defence and Molecular Entomology for of the sterile insect technique (SIT)
against the diseases they carry, Vector-Borne Disease Control will for more efficient suppression of
the International Atomic Energy mosquito vector populations. In a
Agency (IAEA) in cooperation joint effort to build up the nation’s
with the Food and Agriculture defences, the IAEA and FAO
Organization of the United helped establish the Centre at the
Nations (FAO) have completed a University of Kelaniya in 2017. The
four-year technical cooperation university provided the space and
project to help local authorities other facilities, while WHO and Sri
establish a national centre, as a Lanka’s National Research Council
first step towards more effective and National Science Foundation
control of vector-borne diseases. provided funds to conduct research
The National Centre for Research, activities.

India rolls out Pakistan approves
vaccines to
neighbouring countries Sputnik V

The Government of India has received several requests for the COVID-19 vaccine
supply of Indian manufactured vaccines from neighbouring
and key partner countries. In response to these requests, and The Russian Direct Investment Fund
in keeping with India’s stated commitment to use India’s (RDIF) has announced that the Sputnik
vaccine production and delivery capacity to help all of V vaccine against coronavirus has been
humanity fight the COVID pandemic, supplies under grant approved by Drug Regulatory Authority
assistance to Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar of Pakistan (DRAP). Pakistan has
and Seychelles have begun become the 22nd country in the world
from January 20, 2021. to approve Sputnik V. The vaccine
Immunization programme was approved under the emergency
is being implemented in use authorisation procedure based
India, as in other countries, on the results of the clinical trials of
in a phased manner to cover Sputnik V in Russia. As on February 12,
the healthcare providers, Sputnik V has been registered in Russia,
frontline workers and the Belarus, Argentina, Bolivia, Serbia,
most vulnerable. Keeping Algeria, Palestine, Venezuela, Paraguay,
in view the domestic Turkmenistan, Hungary, UAE, Iran,
requirements of the phased Republic of Guinea, Tunisia, Armenia,
rollout, India will continue Mexico, Nicaragua, Republika Srpska
to supply COVID-19 vaccines to partner countries over the (entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina),
coming weeks and months in a phased manner. It will be Lebanon and Myanmar.
ensured that domestic manufacturers will have adequate
stocks to meet domestic requirements while supplying abroad.
India has also provided training to several neighbouring
countries to enhance and strengthen their clinical capabilities,
under the Partnerships for Accelerating Clinical Trials (PACT)
programme. Separately, several training courses have been
organized for healthcare workers and administrators of
partner countries under the Indian Technical and Economic
Cooperation (ITEC) programme, sharing its experience in
dealing with the pandemic.

16 WORLD NEWS BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2021 | www.biospectrumindia.com

FDA approves CEPI Call provides up to
monoclonal Abs $140M to vaccine developers
for COVID-19
treatment Norway based Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)
has opened a new funding opportunity to support the rapid generation
The US Food and Drug of additional clinical research on COVID-19 vaccines. Complementary
Administration (FDA) has to ongoing vaccine R&D efforts, the purpose of the new call is to provide
issued an emergency use critical evidence to address current gaps in its clinical knowledge
authorisation (EUA) for of vaccine performance both now and in the long-term, in order to
bamlanivimab and etesevimab expand access to COVID-19 vaccines as part of the global vaccination
administered together for the rollout. Up to $140 million, contingent upon the availability of funds,
treatment of mild to moderate is to be made available to scientific groups worldwide to carry out the
COVID-19 in adults and supporting research on COVID-19 vaccines either already available
paediatric patients (12 years of to populations in some countries under ‘emergency use approval’ or
age or older weighing at least ‘conditional licensure’ or similar, or currently in clinical development.
40 kg [about 88 pounds]), This includes COVID-19 vaccine developers, as well as public health
who test positive for SARS- organisations, academic institutions and others who may not be
CoV-2 and who are at high directly carrying out their own COVID-19 vaccine development but
risk for progressing to severe have the capacity, ability and partnerships established to carry out
COVID-19. The authorised research on a chosen vaccine.
use includes treatment for
those who are 65 years of age Azerbaijan to conduct
or older or who have certain trials of Sputnik V,
chronic medical conditions. AZD1222 vaccine cocktail
The EUA was issued to Eli Lilly
and Co. In a clinical trial of The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) has announced that
patients with COVID-19 at high the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Azerbaijan has issued a
risk for disease progression, a permit to conduct clinical trials in the country of a combined use of
single intravenous infusion of Sputnik V and the vaccine developed jointly by AstraZeneca and
bamlanivimab and etesevimab Oxford University. Clinical trials will begin till the end of February.
administered together The world’s first combined vaccine use will be conducted in line with
significantly reduced COVID- clinical trials protocol registered on December 24, 2020. The study will
19-related hospitalisation and allow evaluating the immunogenicity and safety of the combined use of
death during 29 days of follow- Sputnik V and the vaccine jointly developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford
up compared to placebo. The University. The partnership for the clinical study of the combination of
safety and effectiveness of this the AZD1222 vaccine with the adenoviral vector Ad26 of the Sputnik
investigational therapy for use V vaccine has become the first and very important example of such
in the treatment of COVID-19 cooperation in the world.
continue to be evaluated.
Bamlanivimab and etesevimab
are not authorised for patients,
who are hospitalised due to
COVID-19 or require oxygen
therapy due to COVID-19.

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2021 | www.biospectrumindia.com WHO NEWS 17

WHO proposes WHO releases essential
diagnostics list for 2021
new road map
To address the lack of access to tests and testing services in multiple
for NTDs countries, the World Health Organisation (WHO) since 2018 has
published a yearly essential diagnostics list (EDL), a basket of
A new World Health recommended in vitro diagnostics that should be available at point-of-
Organization (WHO) road care and in laboratories in all countries to increase timely and life-saving
map for neglected tropical diagnoses. The latest edition, published,
diseases (NTDs) proposes includes WHO-recommended COVID-19
ambitious targets and tests (PCR and Antigen), expands the
innovative approaches to suite of tests for vaccine-preventable
tackle 20 diseases, which and infectious diseases and non-
affect more than a billion communicable diseases (such as cancer
mainly poor people and which and diabetes), and introduces a section
thrive in areas where access on endocrinology, which is important for
to quality health services, reproductive and women’s health. The
clean water and sanitation is recommendations in the list are based
scarce. Targets include the on robust evidence and take into account
eradication of dracunculiasis country suitability. The process is
(guinea worm) and yaws and overseen by the Strategic Advisory Group
a 90 per cent reduction in the of Experts on In Vitro Diagnostics (SAGE IVD), a group of specialists
need for treatment for NTDs from around the world with long standing experience in the field of IVDs
by 2030. `Ending the neglect and their implementation, their use, regulation and evaluation.
to attain the Sustainable
Development Goals: a road WHO highlights paediatric
map for neglected tropical chronic pain management
diseases 2021–2030´ aims
to accelerate programmatic New WHO Guidelines on the management of chronic pain in children
action and renew momentum provide recommended physical, psychological and pharmacological
by proposing concrete interventions for pain relief in children aged 0-19 years. The guideline
actions focused on integrated supports member states and their partners to develop and implement
platforms for delivery of national and local policies, regulations, pain management protocols
interventions. Additionally, the and best practices for pain relief. Care for children with chronic pain
road map will track 10 cross- must be child- and family-centred and included in all universal health
cutting targets and disease coverage schemes. Based on the most current scientific evidence,
specific targets that include a
reduction by more than 75 per the recommendations include
cent in the number of deaths three areas of inventions: physical
from vector-borne NTDs such therapy, psychological therapy, and
as dengue, leishmaniasis and pharmacological management, which
others. may include the use of morphine
for end-of-life-care or when chronic
pain is associated with life-limiting
conditions. The guideline highlights
the importance of opioid stewardship
to address worldwide concerns
about harms arising from misuse
of these medicines. Opioid stewardship refers to a series of strategies
and interventions involving the appropriate procurement, storage,
prescribing and use of opioids, as well as the disposal of unused opioids
when opioids are appropriately prescribed for the treatment and
management of specific medical conditions.

18 UNION BUDGET 2021-22 BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2021 | www.biospectrumindia.com

Budget 2021 takes many
steps forward and a few back

Underscoring the significant importance of health and wellbeing for the growth and development
of the country, the budget allocation for the same has been increased to Rs 2,23,846 crore in the
Union Budget 2021-22. But many concerns, such as neglecting digital healthcare in the budget,
have also been raised. The industry feels let down as the government did not address tax benefits
on R&D investments in pharma, lowering GST for life-saving drugs, focusing on personal health
insurance adoption, special attention to mental healthcare, articulation on Universal Healthcare
Coverage (UHC) and much more.

The Union Budget presented by Finance will be launched with an outlay of about Rs 64,180
Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February crore over 6 years. This will develop capacities of
1, 2021, has strongly positioned health and primary, secondary, and tertiary care health systems,
wellbeing as one of the 6 crucial pillars of Aatma strengthen existing national institutions, and create
Nirbhar Bharat. Underscoring the significant new institutions, to cater to the detection and cure of
importance of health and wellbeing for the growth new and emerging diseases. This will be in addition
and development of the country, the budget to the National Health Mission.
allocation for the same has been increased to Rs
2,23,846 crore in Budget Expenditure (BE) 2021- “A well-spent allocation of Rs 64,000 crore
22 as against last year’s BE of Rs 94,452 crore. This under the new Atmanirbhar Swasthya Bharat Yojana
manifests into a sharp increase of 137 per cent.

Additionally, the budget has brought a holistic
approach to health as it has focused on strengthening
three areas: Preventive, Curative, and Wellbeing. The
Finance Minister stated that while the investment on
the health infrastructure in this budget has increased
substantially, ‘“Progressively, as institutions absorb
more, we shall commit more ”.

Highlighting that the government under the
leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has
fulfilled the commitment of not only providing relief
in the times of COVID-19 but has also turned the
crisis into an opportunity for further growth and
development, Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of
Health and Family Welfare, Government of India,
New Delhi says “Investment on health infrastructure
in Budget 2021 has increased 2.37 times or 137
per cent. The focus on strengthening three areas -
preventive health, curative health and well-being with
total allocation to the health sector being Rs 2,23,846
crore, will be of immense help to the country at this
critical juncture.”

Healthcare

Acknowledging the importance of a robust health
system as a significant pillar of sustained progress
in the health sector, a new centrally sponsored
scheme, PM Aatma Nirbhar Swasth Bharat Yojana,

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2021 | www.biospectrumindia.com UNION BUDGET 2021-22 19

scheme will show significant results thus labelling Key highlights of Union Budget 2021-22
healthy India as an encouraging effort. And, the
infrastructural push will certainly create many more ● Allocation of Rs 2,23,846 Cr to health sector
skilled jobs, revitalizing the overall ecosystem”, says ● Allocation of Rs 64,000 Cr under new
Sanjiv Navangul, MD & CEO, Bharat Serums and
Vaccines, Mumbai. Atmanirbhar Swasthya Bharat Yojana
scheme
The main interventions under the scheme include ● Introduction of National Commission for
support for 17,788 rural and 11,024 urban health and Allied Healthcare Professionals Bill
wellness centres; setting up integrated public health ● Introduction of National Nursing and
labs in all districts and 3382 block public health Midwifery Commission Bill
units in 11 states; establishing critical care hospital ● Allocation of Rs 35,000 Cr for COVID-19
blocks in 602 districts and 12 central institutions; vaccines
strengthening of the National Centre for Disease ● National rolled out of pneumococcal vaccine
Control (NCDC), its 5 regional branches and 20 ● Incentivize funding of startups
metropolitan health surveillance units; expansion ● Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes
of the Integrated Health Information Portal to announced for 13 manufacturing sectors
all States/UTs to connect all public health labs; ● Allocation of Rs 50,000 Cr, spread over five
operationalisation of 17 new Public Health Units and years, for National Research Foundation
strengthening of 33 existing Public Health Units at ● Increase in permissible FDI limit from 49 to
Points of Entry, that is at 32 Airports, 11 Seaports and 74 per cent
7 land crossings.
“While the investment on
“Setting up of rural and urban health and wellness health infrastructure in
centres could be an opportunity to create a PPP this budget has increased
model. The partnership-driven approach is a sure substantially, progressively,
step for the entities to bring to these hospitals their as institutions absorb more,
inherent areas of strength, thus building a quality we shall commit more”.
- NIRMALA SITHARAMAN,
Minister of Finance
and Corporate
Affairs,
Government of
India, New Delhi

“The focus on strengthening
three areas - preventive
health, curative health
and well-being with total
allocation to the health
sector being Rs 2,23,846
crore will be of immense
help to the country at this
critical juncture.”
- DR HARSH VARDHAN,
Union Minister of Health
and Family Welfare,
Government of
India, New Delhi

20 UNION BUDGET 2021-22 BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2021 | www.biospectrumindia.com

“I am happy to see the model of care”, shares Narendra Varde, Managing
investment in healthcare Director, Roche Diagnostics India and Neighboring
increase to such a level Market, Mumbai.
because it has been long
overdue.” The scheme also involves setting up of 15
- KIRAN MAZUMDAR SHAW, health emergency operation centres and 2 mobile
Executive Chairperson, hospitals; and setting up of a national institution
Biocon, Bengaluru for One Health, a regional research platform for
“The Indian pharmaceutical WHO Southeast Asia Region, 9 Bio-Safety Level III
industry needs strong laboratories and 4 regional National Institutes for
incentive to invest in making Virology.
India a pharma research
hub for the country and the The Finance Minister has also pointed out that
world.” the National Commission for Allied Healthcare
- SURESH PATTATHIL, Professionals Bill has been introduced in Parliament
Managing Director, with a view to ensuring transparent and efficient
Allergan India, Bengaluru regulation of the 56 allied healthcare professions.
“The Indian Medical Device She announced that The National Nursing and
Industry is disappointed Midwifery Commission Bill will be introduced by the
not to notice any changes government for passing to bring about transparency,
in custom duty as done for efficiency and governance reforms in the nursing
other sectors.” profession.
- RAJIV NATH,
Forum Coordinator, Vaccines
Association of Indian
Medical Device Industry The development of COVID-19 vaccines found a pride
(AiMeD), New Delhi of place in the Union Budget 2021. Rs 35,000 crore
“Making specific funds have been allocated for the COVID-19 vaccine in BE
available for the vaccination 2021-22, with a commitment of providing more funds
for COVID-19 as well as if required. In addition, the Pneumococcal Vaccine,
pneumococcal will help to a ‘Made in India’ product, which is presently limited
combat the pandemic and to only 5 states, will be rolled out across the country.
save precious lives.” This is projected to avert more than 50,000 child
- DR K ANAND KUMAR, deaths annually.
MD, Indian Immunologicals,
Hyderabad “With this landmark budget, the government
“The allocation to vaccines of India has signaled its intention to make health a
signals a shift to preventive cornerstone of the future success of our country. The
health care, a validation of allocation to vaccines signals a shift to preventive
the fact that vaccines are health care, a validation of the fact that vaccines are
the most cost-effective the most cost-effective health care interventions”,
health care interventions.” says Dr Krishna Ella, Chairman & Managing Director,
- DR KRISHNA ELLA, Bharat Biotech, Hyderabad.
Chairman & Managing
Director, Bharat Biotech, With similar thoughts on this big announcement,
Hyderabad Dr K Anand Kumar MD, Indian Immunologicals,
Hyderabad says, “Making specific funds available
for the vaccination for COVID-19 as well as
pneumococcal will help to combat the pandemic
and save precious lives. It is really encouraging that
the government is trying to promote the growth of
hospital infrastructure through PPP mode.”

PLI Scheme

With an objective to boost domestic manufacturing,
attract large investment in the medical device sector,
the Department of Pharmaceuticals has launched
a Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for
Promotion of Domestic Manufacturing of Medical
Devices to ensure a level playing field for the

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2021 | www.biospectrumindia.com UNION BUDGET 2021-22 21

domestic manufacturers of medical devices with a “137 per cent increase in
total financial outlay of Rs 3,420 crore for the period healthcare expenditure
2020-21 to 2027-28. is good and shall boost
the health infrastructure.
On the flip side However, there should have
been more allocation than
While many industry players are calling the Union Rs 50,000 crore for 5 years
Budget 2021-22 a progressive and ambitious one, in research & innovation.”
others are raising their doubts and disappointments. - RAVINDRA BORATKAR,
On noticing no changes in the custom duty for President, Maharashtra
medical devices, Rajiv Nath, Forum Coordinator, Economic Development
Association of Indian Medical Device Industry Council, Nagpur
(AiMeD), New Delhi expresses, “The Indian Medical “A well- spent allocation of
Device Industry is disappointed not to notice any Rs 64,000 crore under the
changes in custom duty as done for other sectors.” new Atmanirbhar Swasthya
Bharat Yojana scheme will
Likewise, Ravindra Boratkar, President, show significant results thus
Maharashtra Economic Development Council, labelling healthy India as an
Nagpur shared his disappointment on the low encouraging effort.”
allocation in the budget for R&D and innovation. “137 - SANJIV NAVANGUL,
per cent increase in healthcare expenditure is good MD & CEO, Bharat Serums
and shall boost the health infrastructure. However, and Vaccines, Mumbai
there should have been more allocation than Rs “Setting up of rural and urban
50,000 crore for 5 years in research & innovation”, he health and wellness centres
opined. could be an opportunity to
create a PPP model. The
Further, many concerns have also been raised partnership-driven approach
on neglecting digital healthcare in the budget. The is a sure step for the entities
industry is also let down when the government to bring to these hospitals
did not address tax benefits on R&D investments their inherent areas of
in pharma, lowering GST for life-saving drugs, strength, thus building a
focusing on personal health insurance adoption, quality model of care”.
special attention to mental healthcare, articulation - NARENDRA VARDE,
on Universal Healthcare Coverage (UHC) and much Managing Director,
more. Roche Diagnostics India
and Neighboring Market,
What’s next? Mumbai
“On innovation and R&D,
According to a recent study published in The Lancet, the additional allocation of
India, one of the largest countries in the world, is Rs 50,000 crore over five
expected to have merely 4–15 per cent reductions in years through the National
the risk of premature death from non-communicable Research Foundation
diseases (NCDs) by 2030, which is not sufficient to marks a good beginning in
meet the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target improving the research eco
3.4 that is to reduce premature mortality from NCDs system in the country.”
by a third by 2030. - SATISH REDDY,
Chairman, Dr. Reddy’s
India’s health challenges are indeed huge and Laboratories, Hyderabad
require a high degree of collaboration between
the public and private health sectors to improve
healthcare access, increase insurance cover, bring
down out of pocket expenses and ensure a good
supply of new innovative drugs, particularly in
the post-COVID-19 world. However, the proof of
the pudding will lie in the implementation of the
plans announced in the budget, overcoming all the
challenges.

Dr Manbeena Chawla
[email protected]
(With inputs from Prabhat Prakash)

22 COVER STORY BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2021 | www.biospectrumindia.com

LEADING
THE FROFNROMT
The International Women’s Day theme for the disproportionate burdens that women carry.
2021, celebrated on March 8 every year, is Women leaders and workers have demonstrated
#ChooseToChallenge, which highlights the
importance of challenging biases and misconceptions their skills, knowledge and networks to effectively
in the interest of creating a more inclusive and lead in COVID-19 response and recovery efforts
gender-equal world. At the same time, the United throughout 2020. Today, there is more acceptance
Nations (UN) has issued a 2021 theme: Women in than ever before that women bring different
leadership- Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 experiences, perspectives and skills to the table,
world. The UN’s 2021 theme celebrates efforts from and make irreplaceable contributions to decisions,
girls and women in creating a more equal future and policies and laws that work better for all.
COVID-19 pandemic recovery.
The majority of the countries that have been more
It is also aligned with the priority theme of successful in stemming the tide of the pandemic
the 65th session of the Commission on the Status and responding to its health and broader socio-
of Women that says- ‘Women’s full and effective economic impacts, are headed by women. For
participation and decision making in public life, as instance, countries such as Denmark, Ethiopia,
well as the elimination of violence, for achieving Finland, Germany, Iceland, New Zealand and
gender equality and the empowerment of all women Slovakia, led by women in the government, have been
and girls’, and the flagship Generation Equality widely recognized for the rapidity, decisiveness and
campaign, which calls for women’s right to decision effectiveness of their national response to COVID-19,
making in all areas of life, equal pay, equal sharing as well as the compassionate communication of fact-
of unpaid care and domestic work, an end all forms based public health information.
of violence against women and girls, and healthcare
services that respond to their needs. According to a recent study published in
the Centre for Economic Policy Research
Women across the globe are standing at the front and the World Economic Forum, countries
lines of the COVID-19 crisis, as healthcare workers, with women leaders at the helm seem to
caregivers, innovators, community organizers, have handled the coronavirus pandemic
business leaders and as some of the most exemplary significantly better than their male counterparts.
The study, carried out by the UK-based University
and effective national leaders in combating the of Liverpool and the University of Reading,
pandemic. The crisis has highlighted both revealed that agile policy measures in the initial
the centrality of their contributions and three months of the pandemic in female-led
countries saved nearly two times more lives
than those run by male leaders despite having
similar numbers of cases.

Moreover, an

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2021 | www.biospectrumindia.com COVER STORY 23

important facet the study highlighted is the fact that low. There is still a 31.4 per cent average gender gap
women were less willing to take risks with lives and that remains to be closed globally.
imposed a nationwide lockdown significantly earlier
than male leaders. Concurrently, they were more Nevertheless, at present, a large number of
willing to take risks in the domain of the economy. women across India are excelling in their respective
fields such as pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, clinical
In almost all cases, they locked down earlier research, biotechnology and rising as exemplary
than male leaders in similar circumstances. While figures while putting their best efforts in the fight
this may have longer-term economic implications, it the COVID-19 pandemic. On the frontline of the
has certainly helped these countries to save lives, as pandemic, with their courage and determination,
evidenced by the significantly lower number of deaths these women are inspiring countless people.
in these countries.
BioSpectrum brings to 11 Indian women achievers
Another major development was seen around in the life sciences sector who are making us proud by
November 2020 when Kamala Harris got elected as leading the fight against COVID-19.
the Vice President of the United States, as the first
black woman and the first person of Indian descent Dr Manbeena Chawla
nominated for national office by a major party and [email protected]
only the fourth woman on a presidential ticket.

Likewise, India has a history of electing female
leaders to top positions. India’s Minister of Finance
and Corporate Affairs and President of Federation
of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry
(FICCI) are women. Also, Indian women, such
as the Chief Scientist of the World Health
Organisation (WHO) and Chief Economist of the
International Monetary Fund (IMF), are providing
crucial leadership in the global arena during the
COVID-19 crisis.

However, on the other hand, the scenario
in India is not that bright. India slipped to
the 112th spot from its 108th position
in 2018 in the World Economic
Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index
2020, which covered 153 economies.
Although India ranks

18th in the Political
Empowerment
category, the
positions in
other sub-

indices such
as Economic
Participation and
Opportunity,
Educational
Attainment,
and Health
and
Survival
are still

24 COVER STORY BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2021 | www.biospectrumindia.com

“THE PRESSURE WAS ALL

MULTI-FOLD BUT LITTLE

DID WE SUCCUMB TO IT”

While India is being projected immunogenicity & efficacy through lockdowns,
as the world’s second-largest scaling up BSL-3 production suites, QC,
COVID-19 vaccine maker, QA testing, procuring reagents, material &
Hyderabad based Bharat equipment installations & ensuring distribution
Biotech, co-founded by of all our vaccines which is not taught in
Suchitra Ella and her husband Dr Krishna Ella, textbooks nor is written in SOPs.”
is expanding its annual capacities to deliver
700 million doses of COVAXIN, India’s first For a product yet to complete the phase
vaccine candidate for COVID-19, developed in III clinical trials where approximately 26000
collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical participants have volunteered, she took the
Research (ICMR) - National Institute of Virology risk and started producing the vaccine doses
(NIV), Pune. for the country for the COVID-19 vaccination
programme rolled out on January 16, knowing
Coming across as a significant landmark in that it will be an uphill task. 5.5 million doses
India’s scientific discovery and capability, the of COVAXIN vaccine were procured by the
approval of COVAXIN for emergency use is being government out of which 1.65 million doses
considered as a giant leap for innovation and were rolled out free of cost.
novel product development in India. But this
journey of COVID-19 vaccine development has “COVAXIN has been evaluated in
been an arduous task for Suchitra Ella and her approximately 1000 subjects in Phase I and
team throughout 2020, and continues to be so. Phase II clinical trials, with promising safety and
immunogenicity results, with acceptance in
“The lockdown did make us re-organise international peer reviewed scientific journals”,
ourselves in 4 shifts to maintain all precautions Suchitra points out.
of the pandemic environment around us.
I chose to work full time at the campus in Building upon the promising safety and
Genome Valley. I had a huge responsibility on immunogenicity data in the Phase I and
my shoulders to empathise, listen, share, and Phase II trials, her team is in the process of co-
support all our employees/family’s, mentally & developing the vaccine product with Ocugen for
physically”, recalls Suchitra. the US market. Alongside, Suchitra is working
with the University of Wisconsin–Madison and
It was all the more tough for her when FluGen in the US for testing of a unique vaccine
controversies started swirling around India’s against COVID-19 called CoroFlu that will be
homegrown COVID-19 vaccine, right after the delivered intranasally. The company is also
government’s approval. Adding to her tension pursuing a COVID-19 vaccine candidate with US
has been the recent observation that less based Thomas Jefferson University.
number of people are coming forward for the
vaccine shots, probably based on the hasty “We endured daily rigorous 12-15 hour
approval of the product, which is still in phase III ‘battles’ to get to the next day, with composure,
trials. courage & confidence to continue. The pressure
was all multi-fold, at home and work, both to
Despite all the questions and pressure be preserved, but little did we succumb to
around her, Suchitra stands strong and says, it. It is the biggest life experience in itself, an
“We had manufactured the H1N1 vaccine honour to stand tall, converting challenges into
back in 2009. We knew to place our teams an opportunity to develop a safe & efficacious
for the different stages from inactivating vaccine to prevent the infection & preserve
the virus, passing through animal testing, public health for India & the world at large”, she
conducting extensive human trials for safety, adds.

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2021 | www.biospectrumindia.com COVER STORY 25

SUCHITRA ELLA,
» Joint Managing Director,
» Bharat Biotech, Hyderabad

“COVAXIN HAS BEEN EVALUATED IN APPROXIMATELY
1000 SUBJECTS IN PHASE I AND PHASE II CLINICAL
TRIALS, WITH PROMISING SAFETY AND IMMUNOGENICITY
RESULTS, WITH ACCEPTANCE IN INTERNATIONAL PEER
REVIEWED SCIENTIFIC JOURNALS.”

26 COVER STORY BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2021 | www.biospectrumindia.com

PRATIBHA KUMARI RAI Hailing from Sikkim, Pratibha Kumari Rai has recently
» Manager-Engineering Systems completed 15 years of her tenure with the leading science
and technology company Merck. She holds almost 7 years
& Solutions, Peenya Site of experience in process automation design & development
and 8 years of experience in team management. She played
» Merck, Bengaluru a key role in contributing towards the validation of new components
for one of Merck’s BioProcess products being used by the customers
to manufacture COVID-19 vaccines approved in India. Her work also
ensured the seamless execution and timely shipment of the system.
She along with her team successfully validated the systems that were
revamped by the company’s customers for producing COVID-19 vaccines.
She works on automation solutions for a complex process in a single-
use application, which contributed largely to business continuity for the
customers in these tough times. While the challenges were many, she
stood strong with her engineering team and found innovative solutions
for some of the tough problems posed by the urgency of the pandemic.
Through enhanced virtual connectivity, Pratibha was able to overcome
the restrictions posed by the lockdown at the start of the pandemic. She
created togetherness virtually with her team and discussed the ways to
mitigate the pandemic pressure.

“I USED MY PROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT SKILL CONCEPT OF
“WHAT, WHEN, WHO” TO DIVIDE THE WORK AT HOME. I FEEL
PROUD OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS WHO WHOLEHEARTEDLY
SUPPORTED MY IDEAS. I ASPIRE TO ENHANCE ALL MY VARIOUS
POSSIBILITIES, CAPABILITIES AND UNFOLD MY HIDDEN TALENTS.”

Dr Kripa Murzello has more than 15 years of experience DR KRIPA MURZELLO
working in the R&D sector. She joined Bharat Serums » Deputy General Manager-
& Vaccines (BSV) in 2005 after completing her Masters
in Zoology/ Biotechnology from Wilson College, R&D Biological
Mumbai. In 2010, she was offered an opportunity
while continuing to work at BSV, to enroll for her PhD at G.S. » Bharat Serums & Vaccines, Mumbai
Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai. She was awarded
her Doctorate from Mumbai University in 2015. Dr Kripa’s keen
interest in education has also led her to be an advisor on the
Board of Studies for several autonomous universities as a mentor
for graduate and post-graduate students. Her passion for
biology, knowledge and expertise in the fields of immunology,
haematology, microbiology, biotechnology and animal studies
has played a critical role in the research and development of
several innovative products at BSV. For Dr Kripa, ensuring the
safety of her team, balancing work from home and managing to
motivate them to travel and work in a challenging environment,
has been one of the most critical and daunting tasks during the
pandemic. She made sure that no work or testing or production
got hampered during this time.

“IT IS A VERY NOVEL EXPERIENCE FOR ALL THE STAFF TO BE
ABLE TO WORK IN THE MIDST OF A PANDEMIC WHICH NO
ONE HAS EXPERIENCED BEFORE. THE MOST IMPORTANT
WAY IN HANDLING THE PANIC IS TO HAVE A LISTENING EAR
AND BEING ABLE TO GIVE STRONG SCIENTIFIC ADVICE.”

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2021 | www.biospectrumindia.com COVER STORY 27

DR A. MALATHI Responsible for conceptualizing, designing and
» Group Chief Medical Officer & implementation of Aster DM Healthcare’s vision and
strategy for excellence in clinical & clinical quality systems &
Group Chief Quality Officer processes, Dr A Malathi’s key aim is to ensure patient safety
and satisfaction across all business verticals viz hospitals,
» Aster DM Healthcare, Bengaluru clinics and pharmacies. When COVID-19 disrupted the world’s social
and economic order at lightning speed and on a scale that we have
not seen in living memory, Dr Malathi’s first step was to ensure
that her team continues with essential containment measures and
support for health systems and equally important was safeguarding
the frontline workers, ensuring their immediate health and safety.
Expanding on the central and clear list of risks and priorities for
medical services, building mitigation strategies were key agendas for
her. She reviewed all possible guidelines and developed specialized
training related to COVID-19 for every specialty. Dr Malathi actively
worked to build robust data surveillance programmes across all
facilities. She is proud of the fact that Aster DM was one of the few
organizations to utilize the COVID-19 dashboards with focused
monitoring status. Further, her team also collated all learnings and
released a white paper called ‘Aster DM Healthcare -COVID-19 Surge
-effective strategic clinical interventions’.

“I WISH TO HIGHLIGHT OUR INITIATIVES UNDER THE FOUR
MANTRAS (A B C D), WHICH HELPED TO TACKLE THE
PRESSURE CREATED BY THE PANDEMIC- ACT QUICKLY, BE
PROACTIVE, COMMUNICATION AND DYNAMIC APPROACH.”

Mitali Patil heads all manufacturing, quality and MITALI PATIL
regulatory compliances at Mylab’s production
plant in Lonavla. A woman managing a » General Manager
manufacturing plant has had very few » Mylab Discovery Solutions, Lonavla
precedents around the world, and a lot fewer in
India. She and her team were instrumental in ensuring that
the production of COVID-19 test kits matched demand even
under super high-pressure situations last year. Her team scaled
up from 2000 kits a day to 2 lakh kits a day in 6 weeks. Mitali
was responsible to get the new machinery in place, recruit and
train new people for production, ensuring production planning
and output is on track, and that quality checks are thorough.
She recalls the unprecedented times when her team ran
three shifts a day non-stop for a record 152 days. A respected
leader among her team, which primarily comprises men, she
represents the feats that women with strength, determination
and hard work can achieve. She strongly believes that merit
should be the only way to evaluate a person’s performance and
not gender, color or any other criteria.

“WHEN I LOOK BACK, I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT
WE RAN SUCH A HUGE OPERATION AND DELIVERED
SUCCESSFULLY IN SUCH A HIGH-PRESSURE SITUATION.
BUT I BELIEVE WITH THE DRIVE TO DO SOMETHING
FOR THE COUNTRY AND THE SUPPORT I GOT FROM
FAMILY AND COLLEAGUES WERE INSTRUMENTAL.”

28 COVER STORY BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2021 | www.biospectrumindia.com

With over 25 years of experience in IT research DR GEETHA MANJUNATH
and having led many innovative projects in the » Chief Executive Officer &
healthcare and transportation sector, especially
catering to the emerging markets, Dr Geetha Chief Technology Officer
Manjunath drives the direction of her startup
venture Niramai with a vision to reduce deaths due to breast » Niramai, Bengaluru
cancer. When the world faced the COVID-19 outbreak, she wanted
to use her technological might to fight the pandemic. As thermal
screening was mandatory for every building to identify people
with COVID-19 symptoms, and she was at the right spot, equipped
with the expertise, she could come up with a new product for
COVID-19 screening, called NIRAMAI FeverTest. The product can
be installed at the entrances of offices, hospitals, schools, public
places to screen every person walking by for high temperature
and/or respiratory abnormality. It also detects if someone is not
wearing a mask. Also, her team launched a new, free service
for automatic analysis of chest X-rays to detect COVID-19 in
symptomatic patients. This service is available on WhatsApp and
is being used by over 250 doctors in rural areas where an expert
radiologist is not available for quick consultations.

“SINCE PEOPLE WERE NOT GOING TO HOSPITALS FOR
NON-EMERGENCY CONDITIONS, WE HAVE STARTED HOME
SCREENING SERVICE, WHICH ENABLES WOMEN TO TAKE
CARE OF THEIR BREAST HEALTH FROM THE COMFORT OF
THEIR HOMES.”

SOWMYA KAUR With a career spanning over 18 years, Sowmya Kaur has
» Head APAC Navitas Clinical worked across multiple aspects of the industry including
operations, business development, and strategy with
Research and Global Head leading industry players like Cognizant, IQVIA, Kendle etc.
She has a successful track record of building and leading
Clinical Solutions Clinical Development engagements across Emerging Markets with a
successful delivery portfolio of projects. Currently serving as the Head APAC
» Navitas Life Sciences, Navitas Clinical Research and Global Head Clinical Solutions at Navitas
Life Sciences, she took on her new leadership role during the COVID-19
Bengaluru pandemic. Her primary focus was safeguarding the health of her teams
while ensuring that the company maintained business continuity, so that
there was no disruption of the ongoing work. It helped immensely that the
DNA of the organisation had never been hierarchical, and colleagues were
encouraged to be innovative. Some of her key strategic contributions during
this time included the adoption of online consultations, direct patient
shipment, home care visits to evaluate safety of patients and amendments
to protocols. Patient safety and data integrity remained one of her biggest
priorities during the entire exercise. Logistic issues were handled fervently by
the virtual teams, while Sowmya steered with intense collaborations to find
innovative ways of risk mitigation, resulting in minimal or no disruptions.

“AS A WOMAN LEADER, I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A POINT OF
CONNECTION BETWEEN ‘WHAT YOU LOVE’ AND ‘WHAT YOU ARE
GOOD AT’. THIS CONNECTION IS YOUR PASSION. IF THIS PASSION
SERVES SOCIETY, IT WILL CREATE A SENSE OF PURPOSE.”

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2021 | www.biospectrumindia.com COVER STORY 29

Coming from a background of international marketing, CHANDRA GANJOO
Chandra Ganjoo started her career in sales and marketing » Executive Director and
in Trivitron way back in 1999 when the company had just
started its operations in India. From the initial days, she has Group Chief People Officer
voluntarily taken responsibilities, which were beyond her
age and skills. She has played a very important role in deciding the » Trivitron Healthcare, New Delhi
future of Trivitron along with the core management team and her
strong proficiency in the global healthcare sector enables her to offer
strategic support in terms of HR & corporate marketing. Also, she has
been pivotal in developing business strategies and has been leading
the expansion and diversification ventures of the Trivitron Group. As
the demand for COVID-19 testing kits was huge in the country, she
worked with her team tirelessly to increase the production capacity to
support the country in the hour of need. Chandra was quick enough
to start the new manufacturing and production centre in Vizag. The
entire recruitment of this new facility was done during the peak of
lockdown. It was difficult but with proper planning and support from
government approval authorities, her team was able to induct 100
plus employees in the Vizag manufacturing unit during lockdown. She
regards this as one of the greatest achievements of her entire team.

“SOMETIMES LIFE PRESENTS UNFORESEEN EVENTS
LIKE COVID-19 WHICH CHALLENGED US SOCIALLY AND
ECONOMICALLY. HOWEVER, I AM FROM THAT SCHOOL
OF THOUGHTS WHERE WE ARE TAUGHT TO LOOK FOR
OPPORTUNITIES IN THE MIDDLE OF DIFFICULTIES.”

DR JANANI VENKATRAMAN APhD from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in
Bengaluru and a post-doctoral fellow from Yale
» Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer University in the US, Dr Janani Venkatraman has vast
» Biomoneta Research, Bengaluru experience in the field of research. She has worked
as a research scientist at AstraZeneca for more than
6 years, managed projects as a consultant at Cellworks Research
India, before she incorporated her startup Biomoneta Research in
2014. She has built a small team of less than 10 people, with many
who are new to working in companies and to biology. As part
of her work, she is developing devices that kill airborne germs
such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, spores that can cause disease and
product contamination. These devices are already in use creating
low bioburden zones in biotech R&D and device manufacturing
facilities, as well as hospitals. Data from successful pilots in St.
John’s and Baptist hospitals convinced a Japanese institutional
funder, Beyond Next Ventures, and Indian healthcare angels
to invest in Biomoneta during the height of the pandemic. At
present, Dr Janani is looking forward to deploying the technology
in multiple environments like hospitals, offices, labs, schools etc.
to help people reclaim their workspaces during the pandemic.

“OUR BIGGEST PROBLEM DURING THE PANDEMIC AND
CONSEQUENT LOCKDOWN WAS BEING UNABLE TO
WORK REMOTELY AS WE ARE A HARDWARE COMPANY.
THE PANDEMIC GAVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE OUR
ENGINEERS A CRASH COURSE IN BIOLOGY!”

30 COVER STORY BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2021 | www.biospectrumindia.com

DR DEBJANI SAHA Dr Debjani Saha ventured from academia to industry,
carrying a unique blend of technical expertise with
» Group Product Manager product management. She holds a PhD in molecular
» Premas Life Sciences, New Delhi biology from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc),
Bengaluru. With over 8 years of work experience,
she now heads the expansion and marketing of all product
portfolios at Premas Life Sciences (PLS). Her in-depth knowledge
of the biotechnology domain and innovative approach towards
consultative selling sets her class apart. Dr Debjani takes pride in
the fact that her organization is a well-knit family of like-minded
individuals working towards a shared vision. A perfect example of
this is reflected in the way her team raced ahead of time in scouting
innovative revolutionary technologies to meet the need of the hour
when COVID-19 started setting in. PLS partnered with GenScript to
launch the world’s first US FDA approved SARS-CoV-2 neutralization
antibody assay in India, a significant test sero-surveillance test and
for checking the vaccine efficacy. Apart from venturing into newer
avenues to keep the business moving, the company also became
strategic partners to key Indian researchers and policymakers in
creating a much-needed boost for massive genome sequencing.

“THE PANDEMIC WAS ONE OF THE MOST UNCERTAIN TIMES
WITNESSED BY MANKIND. AS FOR ME, I WOKE UP EACH
DAY IN GRATITUDE AND A RAY OF HOPE THAT THIS TOO
SHALL PASS. AND, IT DID. LIKE SHELLEY SAID, IF WINTER
COMES, CAN SPRING BE FAR BEHIND?”

Currently serving as the Director of the Cell Culture division DR PRITI V. WARKE
at HiMedia Laboratories, and heading the Regulatory » Director- Cell Culture,
Affairs of the company, Dr Priti V Warke along with
her husband Dr Vishal G. Warke took over the brand’s Head- Regulatory Affairs
Animal Cell Culture division in 2003 after they returned
from the United States. The journey is being continued that was » HiMedia Laboratories, Mumbai
initiated 44 years ago by Dr G. M. Warke, the visionary behind
HiMedia Labs, paving the way for further success. Dr Priti has been
instrumental in starting the stem cell and regenerative medicine
division at HiMedia. She is actively involved in developing serum free
media, assay kits, cells required for manufacturing of monoclonal
antibodies for cancer. She has developed the viral transport
medium (VTM) for H1N1 during the 2009 epidemic in a short span of
2 months. This media was later used during the COVID-19 pandemic
all over India for transporting patient samples. The VTM kit is
currently being used for collecting samples to test for coronavirus
infections. HiMedia is India’s largest validated and certified
manufacturer of the VTM kits. Apart from handling the business
humdrum, Dr Priti is an avid yoga and meditation practitioner.

“INDIANS ARE BIOLOGICALLY MUCH MORE ROBUST WHEN
IT COMES TO IMMUNITY. CONSIDERING THE POPULATION
DYNAMICS OF OUR COUNTRY, MASS TESTING WAS A
HUGE TASK TO BE CARRIED OUT. SCALING UP OF TESTING
LABORATORIES AND MANUFACTURING SET UPS PLAYED A
MAJOR ROLE IN FIGHTING THE PANDEMIC.”

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2021 | www.biospectrumindia.com INDUSTRY REPORT 31

INDIAN MEDICAL DEVICE
AND DIAGNOSTICS MARKET

HITS RS 77,540 CR
IN 2019-20

The overall Indian market for medical device and instruments and medical technologies. In 2017-18, India
diagnostics stands at Rs 77,540 crore for the year imported instruments and appliances (HS code 9018) used
2019-20. In 2018-19 the overall market was Rs 72,000 in medical, surgical, dental or veterinary sciences, including
crore growing at 7 per cent over the previous year’s scintigraphic apparatus, other electro-medical apparatus
market size of Rs 66,400 crore. According to Invest and sight-testing instruments, not elsewhere specified or
India, the National Investment Promotion and Facilitation indicated (n.e.s); Instruments and appliances used in dental
Agency of India, the country’s exports stood at $2.51 billion sciences, n.e.s. Ophthalmic instruments and appliances, n.e.s.
and imports at $5.6 billion in 2019-20. It noted that the overall worth Rs 9,832 crore registering a growth of 8.47 per cent
import dependency is over 75 per cent. The medical device as against the previous year’s figure of Rs 9,064 crore. The
sector is projected to register a CAGR of 14.8 per cent and is imports were on the rise in 2018-19 as the figures crossed
expected to reach $11.86 billion in 2021-22. Rs 10,000 crore mark to touch Rs 12,347 crore. With this the
imports had increased by over 25 per cent. However, the
The market of indigenous medical devices and import figures saw a very minimal increase of 1.34 per cent
diagnostics is worth Rs 40,040 crore for the year 2019-20 in 2019-20 as the imports hit Rs 12,513 crore. During the
registering a growth of 10 per cent over the previous year’s first eight months of the financial year 2020-21 the top five
figure of Rs 36,400 crore. (Growth rate was 6 per cent in countries from where India imported medical instruments
2018-19). There are 750–800 domestic medical devices include China (Rs 1,507 crore), the USA (Rs 1,129 crore),
manufacturers in India, with an average investment of Germany (Rs 827 crore), Rs Singapore (Rs 452 crore) and
$2.3–2.7 million and an average turnover of $6.2-6.9 million. Japan (Rs 338 crore).
Around 65 per cent of the manufacturers in India are mostly
domestic players operating in the consumables segment On the other side, there is a steady increase in the
and catering to local consumption with limited exports. Large export of these medical instruments and devices (HS code
Multinational Corporations lead the high technology end of 9018) in the last few years. In 2016-17 the export of medical
the Medical Devices market with extensive service networks. instruments and devices were worth Rs 4,168 crore. This
figure touched Rs 4,409 crore in 2017-18 registering a
To promote the medical devices market in the country, in growth of 5.77 per cent over the previous year. The growth
2019, the government of India has approved to establish four rate was over 30 per cent in 2018-19 as the exports touched
medical devices parks in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Rs 5,767 crore. This growth continued in 2019-20 as the
Nadu and Kerala, and have granted Rs 100 crore ($13.5 million) export figure hit Rs 6,993 crore with a growth rate of
per park to the respective states. The medical device parks 21.25 per cent. In the first eight months of this financial
are expected to reduce manufacturing costs, as these will be year 2020-21, the exports were recorded at Rs 4,373 crore.
equipped with the necessary infrastructure where companies During April-November, 2020 period, the leading importers
can plug and play. Besides, the government has announced of Indian medical devices/instruments include the USA
new rules and regulatory processes for the medical devices (Rs 963 crore), Germany (Rs 347 crore), China (Rs 271 crore),
sector like allowing 100 Foreign Direct Interment (FDI) and Brazil (Rs 158 crore), Singapore (Rs 133 crore) and Turkey (Rs
measures to correct unfavourable duty structure. From April 128 crore).
2000 to June 2020, FDI inflows in the medical and surgical
appliances sector reached $2.13 billion. The government has taken many steps and set out an
action plan, which will support the growth of the sector and
IMPORT / EXPORT to reduce the country’s dependency on medical devices/
technology in the coming years.
There is a steady increase in the import of medical devices/

32 INDUSTRY REPORT BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2021 | www.biospectrumindia.com

TRANSASIA BIO-MEDICALS LTD MUMBAI BASED TRANSASIA BIO-MEDICALS
RETAINS NO 1 POSITION LTD IS A LEADING PLAYER IN THE MEDICAL
DEVICES AND DIAGNOSTICS INDUSTRY WITH
IN MEDICAL DEVICES AND SALES REVENUE OF RS 1100 CRORE FOR
DIAGNOSTICS INDUSTRY SURVEY 2020 THE YEAR 2019-20 FOLLOWED BY CHENNAI
BASED TRIVITRON HEALTHCARE PVT LTD
WITH SALES REVENUE OF RS 700 CRORE.

BioSpectrum Top Medical Devices and Diagnostics Companies 2020*

S Name Revenue for Revenue for Per centage Location State Region

No 2019-20 2018-19 growth over

(in Rs crore) (in Rs crore) last year (%)

1 Transasia Bio-Medicals Ltd 1100 1033 6 Mumbai Maharastra West

2 Trivitron Healthcare Pvt Ltd 700 650 8 Chennai Tamil Nadu South

3 Agappe Diagnostics Ltd 203 187 9 Ernakulam Kerala South

4 Meril Diagnostics Private Limited 131 113 16 Vapi  Gujarat West

5 Arkray Healthcare Private Limited 106 122 -13 Mumbai Maharastra West

6 Nureca Pvt Ltd 102 75 36 Mumbai Maharastra West

7 CPC Diagnostics Pvt Ltd 94 97 -3 Chennai Tamil Nadu South

8 Sensa Core Medical Instrumentation Pvt Ltd 90 65 38 Hyderabad Telangana South

9 Peerless Biotech Private Limited 85 63 35 Chennai Tamil Nadu South

10 Medsource Ozone Bio Medicals Pvt Ltd 77 70 10 Faridabad Haryana North

11 Molbio Diagnostics Private Limited 52 23 126 Goa Goa South

12 Paramount Surgimed Ltd 51 51 0 New Delhi New Delhi North

13 Diasys Diagnostics India Private Limited 50 54 -7 Mumbai Maharastra West

14 Oscar Medicare Private Limited 34 31 10 New Delhi New Delhi North

14 Accurex Biomedical Pvt Ltd 34 34 0 Mumbai Maharastra West

15 Beacon Diagnostics Pvt Ltd 33 33 0 Navsari Gujarat West

16 Advy Chemical Private Limited 25 40 -38 Thane Maharastra West

17 Bhat Biotech India (P) Ltd. 22 20 10 Bangalore Karnataka South

18 Biosense Technologies Private Limited 19 16 19 Thane Maharastra West

19 ADS Diagnostic Ltd 14 9 56 New Delhi New Delhi North

20 Recombigen Laboratories Pvt. Ltd. 11 9 22 New Delhi New Delhi North

21 Genuine Biosystem Private Limited 7 6 17 Chennai Tamil Nadu South

22 Biogenix Inc. Pvt. Ltd. 6 4 50 Lucknow Uttar Pradesh North

23 Affigenix Biosolutions Pvt Ltd  4 5 -20 Bangalore Karnataka South

24 Carewell Biotech Pvt. Ltd  3 3 0 New Delhi New Delhi North

25 Leucine Rich Bio Pvt Ltd 2 1 100 Bangalore Karnataka South

*We have not covered some of the indigenous and multinational medical devices and diagnostics companies as they are unable to participate in the BioSpectrum Survey 2020

BIOSPECTRUM MEDICAL DEVICES AND
DIAGNOSTICS SURVEY AND METHODOLOGY

BioSpectrum India, a leading B2B media A detailed questionnaire (survey form) was sent
platform in Lifesciences space since 2003 to over 800 companies in Medical Devices and
has re-launched its ranking special edition Diagnostics space to capture the needed information
in June 2019 after gap of 2 years. We have for the analysis. This was done during October 2020
delayed this survey exercise in 2020 due to COVID-19, as to January 2021 (Sales revenues of all the companies
companies were given an extended period to submit are in Rs Crore and Rs 70= 1USD). Companies shared
their financial returns till December 2020. In this survey information with us to the extent it was possible by
we looked at only the Medical Devices and Diagnostics them. We have collected information about listed
Industry. We highlighted the companies based on their companies from stock exchange and financial
achievements in the past financial years. agencies as well.

#The revenues considered for the analysis are Medical Devices and Diagnostics sales figures. In several cases, where revenue figures were not available, estimates were arrived in
discussion with industry experts.
#For all the ranking purposes, we have taken the Medical Devices and Diagnostics business only into consideration. Wherever ‘Revenue is mentioned, it means, sales turnover from
Medical Devices and Diagnostics division. Therefore, revenue wherever mentioned is not necessarily the total sales turnover of the company.

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2021 | www.biospectrumindia.com INDUSTRY REPORT 33

01 TRANSASIA
BIO-MEDICALS LTD
REVENUE
Mumbai headquartered diagnostic company Transasia
₹1100 crore Bio-Medicals Ltd clocked in a revenue of Rs 1100 crore
during the FY19-20 exhibiting a growth of 6 per cent
SURESH VAZIRANI with respect to the revenue figure of Rs 1033 crore
generated during the FY18-19. Transasia is a part of
Chairman & Managing Director the global Transasia-Erba group that has spread its footprint across
USA, UK, Germany, France, Czech Republic, France, Russia, Turkey,
Poland, Vietnam, Austria, Brazil and UAE through various acquisitions.
Transasia-Erba Group’s production sites in India, Czech Republic and
USA and R&D centres in France, UK, India and Czech Republic form a
hub for indigenous manufacturing of world-class deliverables. Today,
the group serves millions across 100 countries.
The FY19-20 saw the company investing Rs 50 crore in the
expansion of its manufacturing facility in Sikkim. Spread over 2 acres,
the state-of-the-art facility can produce 6000+ instruments monthly
including the complete range of semi-automated analyzers. Transasia
also unveiled the MX 16, a fully automated nucleic acid extractor in
2019. The MX 16 has been developed by Erba Molecular, a UK subsidiary
of the Transasia-Erba group.
Transasia-Erba group also unveiled Lisa XL, India’s first six-plate
ELISA processor during the FY19-20. A complete walk-away system,
Lisa XL offers a host of features to maximize the efficiency of ELISA
processing.
Expecting a growth of 15-18 per cent in the current fiscal, the
company is working on its next big plans to make Erba-Transasia a
global leader of in-vitro diagnostics (IVD). We will continue to focus on
providing reliable and affordable diagnostic solutions worldwide and
soon become a total diagnostic solutions provider.
In the next 12-24 months, the R&D labs in France, UK, USA, Austria
and India, will launch over 10 new, exciting, state-of-the-art systems
in the fields of chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA), molecular,
high-end hematology, artificial intelligence among others. Also in
the offing is a total lab automation solution aimed at mid and large-
size laboratories. All this is intended to soon make Transasia-Erba one
of the top 5 companies globally to have total solutions in laboratory
diagnostics. Furthermore, providing end-to-end solutions and services
with an emphasis on training of all lab personnel will continue to
remain most relevant to the company.
Founded in 1979, Transasia Bio-Medicals offers products and
solutions in biochemistry, hematology, coagulation, ESR, immunology,
urinalysis, critical care, diabetes management, microbiology and
molecular diagnostics. Transasia provides doctors and patients with
reliable, affordable and innovative medical diagnostic systems with
an impressive install base of above 70,000 equipment across India. It
has a vast network of more than 300 service engineers, 400+ sales and
marketing team, 25 zonal offices and 350+ distributors.

34 INDUSTRY REPORT BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2021 | www.biospectrumindia.com

02 TRIVITRON
HEALTHCARE PVT LTD
REVENUE
Chennai based medical technology company Trivitron
₹700 crore Healthcare Pvt Ltd generated a revenue of Rs 700 crore
during the FY19-20 marking a growth of 8 per cent
DR G S K VELU in comparison to the revenue figure of Rs 650 crore
generated in the previous fiscal. The company gathered
Chairman & Managing Director sales worth Rs 300 crore in the diagnostic kits space while Rs 400
crore were generated in the medtech space. The company’s domestic
business delivered majority share recorded at 60 per cent whereas
the exports brought in the remaining 40 per cent revenue during the
FY19-20.

Trivitron Healthcare launched 10 new innovation-driven products in
advanced imaging modalities and critical care & life support segment
during the FY19-20. The new products launched include Elite – Flat
Panel Digital C-arm with motorized movements, SonoRad V10 – Color
Doppler Ultrasound System, Breast Imaging solutions, Ventilators,
Dialysis systems & consumables, Modular OT solutions, monitors, ECG,
syringe pumps and anesthesia systems.

The FY19-20 also saw Trivitron Healthcare enter into a strategic
partnership with the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms
(C-CAMP) in Bengaluru towards co-development of relevant
technologies and devices in the fields of point-of-care testing,
microfluidics, and multiplex detection, which are within the domain of
expertise and of strategic interest to Trivitron & C-CAMP.

Looking to generate a revenue count of Rs 1000 crore in the
current fiscal, Trivitron plans to continue investing in its own R&D and
manufacturing for the products to ensure cost-effective healthcare
products for the masses. With 11 manufacturing units in five locations
– Chennai, Mumbai, Pune, Helsinki, Ankara and China, the company
intends to scale up its manufacturing abilities to the extent that it
becomes a reliable contract manufacturer for leading healthcare
giants. Also, there are plans to do more acquisitions, at national and
international levels.

The company is also looking at implantable devices as an area
of growth. In addition, there are plans to work closely with the
government and contribute to all the programmes that are being
launched through National Health Missions.

Today, as the world navigates the uncertainty of COVID-19,
the company has been at the fore front in providing high-value
COVID-19 solutions ranging from PPE kits & diagnostic kits, viral
transport media, laboratory equipment and other consumables.
Building the future of healthcare with performance-driven solutions,
the company is running 13 manufacturing and R&D facilities in India,
Finland, Turkey & China.

Trivitron Healthcare has multiple brands associated with it namely
Kiran Medical systems, Labsystems Diagnostics, Trivitron Healthcare
Middle East, Trivitron Healthcare Africa and Bome Trivitron. The
organisation has been working to make quality healthcare affordable
and is among the pioneers in making high-end medical technology
accessible, making use of its broad network of channel partners, and
associates.

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2021 | www.biospectrumindia.com INDUSTRY REPORT 35

AGAPPE 03 MERIL 04
DIAGNOSTICS LTD DIAGNOSTICS PVT LTD

Ernakulam based Agappe Diagnostics Ltd During the FY19-20, Vapi-based Meril Diagnostics
gathered a revenue of Rs 203 crore during the Pvt Ltd recorded a revenue figure of Rs 131 crore,
FY19-20 exhibiting a growth of 9 per cent with showing a growth of 16 per cent in comparison
respect to the revenue generation of Rs 187 crore to the revenue figure of Rs 113 crore generated in
during the FY18-19. The company gathered sales the previous year. The company offers a complete
worth Rs 122 crore in the diagnostic kits space while range of analyzers, reagents for clinical biochemistry,
Rs 82 crore were generated in the medtech space. haematology, immunology, critical care, diabetes
The domestic business delivered the majority share management, coagulation and lab consumables.
recorded at 80 per cent whereas the exports brought Meril’s malaria range of products is amongst very few
in the remaining 20 per cent revenue during the FY19- Indian kits approved by the World Health Organisation
20. The company is expecting a growth of 62 per cent (WHO). Also, its HIV range of products are CE marked
by the end of FY20-21. and commercially used in many parts of Europe.

ARKRAY 05 NURECA 06
HEALTHCARE PVT LTD PVT LTD

Mumbai-based Arkray Healthcare Private Mumbai-based Nureca Private Limited generated
Limited generated a revenue of Rs 106 crore a revenue of Rs 102 crore during the FY19-20
during the FY19-20 exhibiting a decline of 13 exhibiting a growth of 36 per cent with respect
per cent with respect to the revenue figure of Rs 122 to the revenue figure of Rs 75 crore generated during
crore generated during the FY18-19. A wholly-owned the FY18-19. Expecting a similar growth of 30 per cent
subsidiary of Japan-based Arkray Inc., the company in the current fiscal, the company plans to launch more
started its sales & marketing office in Mumbai innovative medical devices at an affordable cost. Having
in December 2007. It collaborated with Piramal developed a Pan-India network of 450 distributors,
Healthcare and an experienced and dedicated team Nureca has made its products available at affordable
of professionals was inherited from Piramal to form prices across the country. The company is focused
Arkray Piramal Medical Pvt. Ltd. In February 2010, the on enabling its users with tools to effectively monitor
company was renamed as Arkray Healthcare. chronic ailments and improve their lifestyles.

CPC 07 SENSA CORE MEDICAL 08
DIAGNOSTICS PVT LTD INSTRUMENTATION PVT LTD

Chennai-based CPC Diagnostics Private Limited Hyderabad-based Sensa Core Medical
generated a revenue of Rs 94 crore during the Instrumentation Private Limited gathered
FY19-20 exhibiting a decline in growth with a revenue of Rs 90 crore during the FY19-20
respect to the revenue generation of Rs 97 crore exhibiting a growth of 38 per cent in comparison to
during the FY18-19. The company gathered sales worth the revenue figure of Rs 65 crore generated during
Rs 80 crore in the diagnostic kits space while Rs 14 the FY18-19. Operational since 2006, the company
crore were generated in the medtech space. Maximum gathered sales worth Rs 53.8 crore in the diagnostic
revenue was gathered in the domestic space as kits space while Rs 36 crore was generated in the
compared to exports. Poised to grow by 20 per cent medtech space. Sensa Core has a total workforce of 238
in the next fiscal, the company plans to launch 3 new employees. After having recorded a consistent growth
instruments for IVD and 9 new reagent parameters. trajectory of 40 per cent, the company is aiming to
pick 50 per cent growth in the next fiscal.

36 INDUSTRY REPORT BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2021 | www.biospectrumindia.com

PEERLESS 09 MEDSOURCE OZONE 10
BIOTECH PVT LTD BIOMEDICALS PVT LTD

Chennai-based Peerless Biotech Private Limited Based in Faridabad, Medsource Ozone Biomedicals
clocked in a revenue figure of Rs 85 crore during Private Limited gathered a revenue figure of Rs
the FY19-20 exhibiting a growth of 35 per cent 77 crore during the FY19-20 exhibiting a growth
with respect to the revenue generation of Rs 63 crore of 10 per cent in comparison to the revenue generation
during the FY18-19. Operational since 2001, Peerless of Rs 70 crore during the FY18-19. Incepted in 2003,
Biotech delivered a majority share of the revenue the company has been offering solutions in the form
through domestic sales during the FY19-20. With a total of rapid tests, clinical chemistry, hematology, serology,
workforce of 126 employees, the company launched blood grouping, molecular diagnostics, coagulation
blood ketone meter & strips and hematology analyzer and ELISA kits, that are sold across India and the
during the FY19-20. In the future, the company plans to neighbouring countries. The company has employed
launch wound care and surgical products along with over 350 people directly in various functions with over
PCR and special turbi parameters. 500 qualified distribution partners.

MOLBIO 11 PARAMOUNT 12
DIAGNOSTICS PVT LTD SURGIMED LTD

Goa-based Molbio Diagnostics Private Limited New Delhi based Paramount Surgimed Limited
clocked in a revenue figure of Rs 52 crore during generated a revenue of Rs 51 crore during the
the FY19-20 exhibiting a huge growth of 126 per FY19-20 exhibiting a slight growth with respect
cent with respect to the revenue generation of Rs 23 to the revenue generation during the FY18-19. The
crore during the FY18-19. The company offers a global export business delivered the majority share recorded
first platform that can perform molecular diagnostics at 70 per cent whereas the domestic sales brought in
for infectious diseases at the point-of-care - Truelab the remaining 30 per cent of the revenue during the
Real Time Quantitative micro PCR System comprising FY19-20. The company started with the manufacturing
Truenat micro PCR Chips. The company has received of surgical blades and is now a leading supplier of
an endorsement from the World Health Organisation a huge range of disposable products. Paramount
(WHO) for three of their rapid molecular Truenat assays Surgimed is looking forward to a growth of 15 per cent
for initial diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB). in the current fiscal.

DIASYS 13 OSCAR 14
DIAGNOSTICS INDIA PVT LTD MEDICARE PVT LTD

During the FY19-20, Mumbai based Diasys Based in New Delhi, Oscar Medicare Private
Diagnostics India Private Limited generated a Limited generated a revenue of Rs 34 crore
revenue of Rs 50 crore exhibiting a decline of during the FY19-20, recording a growth of 10
7 per cent with respect to the revenue generation of per cent in comparison to the revenue generation of
Rs 54 crore during the FY18-19. During the year, the Rs 31 crore in the previous year. The company has an
company took consistent efforts and made strategic in-house R&D facility to develop new products suitable
decisions of defocusing on instrument business to Indian as well as international market. There is a
and keeping a special focus on re-agent business to wide range of products for the diagnosis of pregnancy,
improve the business margins. This led to the increase ovulation, syphilis, typhoid, malaria, dengue, HIV, HCV,
in clinical instrument inventories during the year. HBs Ag, Troponin-I and Kala-azar etc. The facility is
Additionally, Diasys Diagnostics India has decided to well equipped with a team of biotechnologists having
introduce more parameters in the clinical chemistry great experience in the IVD industry.
segment to the profitability of the company.

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2021 | www.biospectrumindia.com INDUSTRY REPORT 37

ACCUREX 14 BEACON 15
BIOMEDICAL PVT LTD DIAGNOSTICS PVT LTD

Based in Mumbai, Accurex Biomedical Private Limited Navsari-based Beacon Diagnostics Private Limited
generated a revenue of Rs 34 crore during the FY19- generated a revenue of Rs 33 crore during the FY19-20.
20. Operational since 1984, the company delivered The company is engaged in the manufacturing of
a majority share of the revenue through domestic sales serology products and biochemistry reagents. It manufactures
during the FY19-20. For the next fiscal, Accurex is targeting a wide range of routine and specialized biochemistry test
sales worth Rs 50 crore in addition to increasing the reagents and system Packs. All manufacturing is done at its
share of exports out of total sales. Being a manufacturing manufacturing facility in an area covering more than 40,000
company, it is also planning to launch new products in the sq ft, at Navsari, Gujarat. The company has more than 100
biochemistry and diagnostic range. Guided by a clear vision employees at its plant and head office for various activities
and driven by innovation, Accurex has gained considerable of management, manufacturing, quality control and R&D,
expertise in the manufacturing and marketing of In-vitro administration and logistic support. It engages more than 250
Diagnostic (IVD) reagents. distributors to support its customers all over India.

ADVY 16 BHAT 17
CHEMICAL PVT LTD BIOTECH INDIA PVT LTD

Thane based Advy Chemical Private Limited generated Bengaluru based Bhat Biotech India Private Limited
a revenue of Rs 25 crore during the FY19-20, exhibiting clocked in a revenue figure of Rs 22 crore during the
a decline of 38 per cent in its growth when compared FY19-20 exhibiting a growth of 10 per cent with respect
to the revenue generation of Rs 40 crore in the FY18-19. The to the revenue generation of Rs 20 crore during the FY18-19.
company has been an indigenous and innovative pioneer Established in 1994, the company is specialized in the design
in the development of polyclonal antibodies and native development, manufacture and marketing of diagnostic
human antigens, and manufacturing of finished reagents products and biotechnology based products. It also markets
in the In Vitro Diagnostic (IVD) industry. It is listed in the polymeric sensor based equipment for water, soil and milk
EU TRACES database for exporting antibodies products testing. The company is currently focusing on launching
to the EU. Advy Chemical is supported by an experienced new instrumentation like automated RT PCR, glucometer,
and knowledgeable team and a well-equipped production Hb meter, TSH meter etc. In addition, Bhat Biotech is
facility. anticipating to grow at a rate of 30 per cent in the future.

BIOSENSE 18 ADS 19
TECHNOLOGIES PVT LTD DIAGNOSTIC LTD

During the FY19-20, Thane based Biosense Based in New Delhi, ADS Diagnostic Limited
Technologies Private Limited recorded a clocked in a revenue figure of Rs 14 crore
revenue figure of Rs 19 crore, showing a during the FY19-20 exhibiting a growth of 56
growth of 19 per cent in comparison to the revenue per cent with respect to the revenue generation
generation of Rs 16 crore in the previous year. Biosense of Rs 9 crore during the FY18-19. Operational since
Technologies has been created by a group of medical 1984, ADS Diagnostic is principally engaged in the
professionals, engineers, product designers as well as trading of medical equipment and its ancillary
IT coders to utilize the boom of Digital India and Make services. The company offers patient monitoring
in India campaign to contribute towards designing systems and ultrasound machines. In particular, the
portable yet affordable devices for basic health care company offers a wide range of digital mammography
screening. The major focus areas of the company machines. It also provides equipment to measure bone
include diabetes, anemia and malnutrition. mineral density as a common test used to diagnose
osteoporosis.

38 ICNODVUERSTSRTYOREYPORT BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2021 | www.biospectrumindia.com

RECOMBIGEN 20 GENUINE 21
LABORATORIES PVT LTD BIOSYSTEM PVT LTD

New Delhi based Recombigen Laboratories Private Based in Chennai, Genuine Biosystem Private Limited
Limited clocked in a revenue figure of Rs 11 crore during generated a revenue of Rs 7 crore during the
the FY19-20 exhibiting a growth of 22 per cent with FY19-20, exhibiting a growth of 17 per cent when
respect to the revenue generation of Rs 8.68 crore during the compared to the revenue generation of Rs 6 crore in the
FY18-19. The company gathered sales worth Rs 9 crore in the previous year. Established in 2008, Genuine Biosystem
diagnostic kits space while Rs 1.52 crore was generated in the comprises independent diagnostics units and has
medtech space. The domestic business delivered majority share emerged as the leading manufacturer and marketer of
recorded at 90 per cent whereas the exports brought in the In-vitro Diagnostics (IVD), reagents and instruments both
remaining 10 per cent revenue. Founded in 1999, Recombigen nationally & internationally. Well known for its innovative
Laboratories comes across as a renowned manufacturer, trader approach, the operations are run by highly involved
and supplier of optimum quality lyophilized powder, endpoint professionals and have continuously set new trends
chemistry, controls & calibrators. through product development and improvements.

BIOGENIX 22 AFFIGENIX 23
INC PVT LTD BIOSOLUTIONS PVT LTD

For Lucknow-based Biogenix Inc Private Limited, Bengaluru-based Affigenix Biosolutions Private
the FY19-20 saw a revenue generation of Rs Limited generated a revenue of Rs 4 crore during
6 crore exhibiting a growth of 50 per cent the FY19-20 exhibiting a decline in growth with
in comparison to the revenue generation of Rs 4 respect to the revenue figure of Rs 5 crore generated
crore in the previous year. Biogenix is an eminent during the FY18-19. Operational since 2012, the company
manufacturer and exporter of immunoassay products delivered a majority share of the revenue through domestic
including diagnostic and research ELISA kits, clinical sales during the FY19-20. With a team of 10 scientists, the
chemistry, rapid test kits, to name a few. Operational company is providing customized products and services
since 2016, the company has a total workforce of 55 to more than 30 biopharma companies in India, Dubai
employees. With an R&D expenditure of Rs 20-30 and Germany. Its medical devices manufacturing facility at
lakh, the company launched around 10 new products Chennai has been established on 0.71 acre of land having
during the FY19-20. more than 10,000 square feet of laboratory area.

CAREWELL 24 LEUCINE RICH 25
BIOTECH PVT LTD BIO PVT LTD

New Delhi-based Carewell Biotech Private Bengaluru-based Leucine Rich Bio Private
Limited recorded a revenue figure of Rs 3 crore Limited gathered a revenue of Rs 2 crore
during the FY19-20. Established in 1994, Carewell during the FY19-20 exhibiting a huge growth
Biotech is an exporter, manufacturer, distributor and of 100 per cent with respect to the revenue figure of
supplier in the hematology and analyser business. It Rs 1 crore generated during the FY18-19. Well known
has made a name for itself in the list of top suppliers as South Asia’s first microbiome company, its gut
of medical equipment and scientific instruments in microbiome test, called BugSpeaks is a non-invasive
India. The company offers a range of products such as gut microbiome test that provides insights into the
Carelyte - Electrolyte Analyzer, Hematology Analyzer health of an individual. The startup plans to conduct
etc. Incorporated in 1994, Carewell’s mission is to bring a few clinical trials and address some of the lifestyle-
relevant and affordable products in the field of the based chronic diseases in the future. It is also planning
medical diagnostics Industry without compromising to launch novel diagnostic and therapeutic solutions
the quality of the product. based on gut microflora.

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2021 | www.biospectrumindia.com Q&A 39

“We support scientists in
all regions researching and
developing vaccines against COVID”

« second aspect – serving our customers on the front-
line of the battle against the coronavirus. Here our
Eva van Pelt, primary goal is to ensure Eppendorf’s production and
Co-CEO & Chief delivery capacity. Our customers can count on us to
Commercial Officer, deliver and support their tireless effort of developing
Eppendorf AG, vaccines and medications.
Hamburg, Germany
How have you been able to tackle the
Founded in Hamburg, Germany in 1945, pressure created by the pandemic?
Eppendorf AG has more than 3,300 employees
worldwide and has subsidiaries in 26 countries The high demand for our products, especially
and is represented in all important markets by consumables such as pipet tips is unbroken as they
distributors. In an interaction with BioSpectrum are essential for tackling COVID. Therefore, we
India, Eva van Pelt, Co-Chief Executive Officer & expanded our production capability to the maximum
Chief Commercial Officer, Eppendorf AG, who was currently possible using a shift system enabling
appointed to this position on December 6, 2019 production 24/7. Furthermore, we increased the size
shared her view about the company’s contributions in of one of our production sites, adding more floor
the fight against COVID-19 and the growth plans of space and machinery for the production line. This
the company. Edited excerpts; construction process will also continue in 2021. In
doing so we ramp up production of consumables by
What have been your key contributions within about 30 per cent.
the organization towards fighting COVID-19?
Our global sales and service teams also remained
The current challenges posed by the corona virus actionable due to the same high adaptability and
are both a mission and a motivation for us. Since commitment under these challenging circumstances.
the company’s beginnings more than 75 years ago, Even throughout the lockdown phases across the
Eppendorf has pursued the mission of “improving different regions we remained in close contact with
human living conditions”. The importance of this our customers – be it to support on-site or via virtual
mission, yesterday and today, is also evident in the support mechanisms. Our e-shops for example
current situation concerning the coronavirus. As offer our customers the opportunity to order goods
part of this mission we focus on two main aspects digitally in over 30 countries, including China. The
– the safety and health of our global workforce and platform is being updated continuously, the new
providing laboratories with the best and reliable version will be available in the course of this year.
equipment.
Generally speaking, the utmost commitment to
All employees, who are able to do so, to work from support and serve our customers characterizes our
home. This measure in return not only protects them entire workforce at Eppendorf. My colleagues from
and their families but also all colleagues who cannot the Management Board and myself remain deeply
work from home, such as in production and logistics. impressed and proud of how adaptable and agile our
Furthermore, amongst other aspects, wearing employees continue to be.
personal protection equipment is mandatory as well
as complying with the needed social distance. How is Eppendorf supporting the vaccine
development? What is the progress so far?
Protecting our employees also contributes to the
I am personally very happy that we already have
several approved vaccines on the market and many
more underway. And I am proud that Eppendorf
plays an active role in supporting these activities.
From the development of vaccines to the extensive
analysis of patient samples and research into early

40 Q&A BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2021 | www.biospectrumindia.com

detection: Researchers around the world are engaged locally as well as finding new partners for all aspects
in the fight against COVID-19, with Eppendorf of our value chain. And we will continue to increase
at their side. We support scientists in all regions our investments in Asia, not only in our Go-to-market-
researching and developing vaccines against COVID strategy, but also addressing local R&D, production
with e.g. manual and electronic pipettes, pipetting and innovation capabilities and capacities.
robots, liquid handling consumables and centrifuges
as well as high-quality bioprocess equipment. What are the major goals set in for 2021?

How was your performance in the FY20? How Eppendorf will continue to drive forward its future
much growth is expected in the FY21? initiative and the targeted transformation of the
company in 2021. The investments planned for
The Eppendorf Group has had an impressive and this purpose in the company’s global sites and
never seen before growth in 2020 with a sales growth infrastructure will be made as planned. Digitalization
of more than 20 per cent worldwide. We are aware plays an important role for the company’s future,
that this is due to an exceptional situation created by therefore we continue to work intensively on the
the pandemic in 2020, which is why our expectation development of customer solutions for the digital lab
for this year is a single digit growth worldwide. of the future.

How did the year go by in the APAC region? In terms of strengthening our market presence
Where was maximum revenue generated? we continue the rollout of our new centrifuge brand
“himac”, especially in Asia and work at full speed on
The APA region was amongst the top three regions in the topic of e-commerce in 2021. Our eShop activities
2020 regarding sales growth with a plus of approx. have made a major step forward with a new technical
24 per cent. China was able to achieve a plus of platform, which went online for the German market
around 11 per cent. A very impressive result, looking last year, and will be rolled out internationally as
at the fact that China went into a hard lockdown at well. The further improvement of our customer
the beginning of 2020. The maximum revenue was management and communication with our customers
generated in Europe due to a very strong market is also an important goal this year. And last but not
development in the last quarter of the year. least, a relevant aspect for the company’s success is
the perfect fitting global footprint of Eppendorf, which
What are your plans for the APAC market? we strategically and sustainably develop. In January
2021, we therefore moved into a new and very modern
Eppendorf considers the APA and China markets as additional sales office in Tokyo, Japan, after opening
highly attractive, fast growing and very innovative. new offices and expanding warehouses in Malaysia,
And since we have started to invest in these regions China and South Korea during the past two years.
we are experiencing a tremendous growth. We are
right now planning additional offices in various Asian Ankit Kankar
hubs to enable us to even better serve our customers [email protected]

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2021 | www.biospectrumindia.com Q&A 41

“Peptide purification
market is underserved by
traditional resin suppliers”
Headquartered in Sweden, Bio-Works
Technologies AB carries out R&D, «
manufacturing and supply of agarose-
based resins used to separate proteins and other Jonathan Royce,
biomolecules. In this large and well-established Chief Executive
area, the company’s products stand out as innovative Officer, Bio-Works
and cutting edge with exceptional performance. Technologies AB,
They are used in academic research laboratories, Sweden
biopharmaceutical companies and many more areas.
Amidst the pandemic, the company announced the We also concluded a number of studies designed to
appointment of Jonathan Royce as the new Chief strengthen the data offered to users in our Regulatory
Executive Officer (CEO). Royce has a background in Support Files.
senior leadership roles within large-scale suppliers
to the biopharmaceutical market including Merck- What are the major plans for 2021?
Millipore and GE Healthcare Life Sciences (now
Cytiva). BioSpectrum interacted with Jonathan In 2021, we will continue our establishment of local
Royce to find out what Bio-Works has in store for the commercial representatives in key markets, starting
Indian market. Edited excerpts; with the addition of a Regional Sales Manager in
the United Kingdom. We will also be increasing
What were the key highlights at Bio-Works in our production capacity so that we stay ahead
2020? of growing customer demands, most notably via
validation of a new reactor, which will double our
2020 was a year in which Bio-Works expanded its capacity for our most popular resins, WorkBeads
global reach in several key markets. We established
a US-subsidiary and hired two sales managers in 40Q and WorkBeads 40S. We are planning
the US market (one in Boston, one in a number of digital events in the first half
San Diego) and substantially grew our of the year where we will give customers
business in key Asian markets, most the opportunity to hear from experts in the
notably South Korea. We brought on Dr field of peptide purification, while later in
Ravi Rayanade in India as a Director
Regional Sales to better be able to the year, we are looking forward to the
serve our growing base of customers return of in-person events where we can
in the Indian biotech market. And share some of the great new data that
we added new distributors in India our applications team is working on.
(Arihant and BioLinx) and Taiwan
(Yong Chien Technology). Also What are the emerging
during the past year, Bio-Works applications of chromatography
continued its quality improvements resin? Are you planning to launch
with a successful re-certification any new product in 2021 or later?
against the ISO 9001:2015 quality
standard. This certification ensures There are so many great emerging fronts
that Bio-Works resins meet the for protein purification, and Bio-Works
strict requirements of users, who are is engaging directly with end-users to
producing biopharmaceuticals under help identify the most pressing needs.
Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). Our primary efforts in the first part of the
year will focus on the needs of peptide

42 Q&A BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2021 | www.biospectrumindia.com

purification. This market is expected to grow rapidly How do you foresee the company’s growth in
during the coming years, with an annual growth India this year & beyond?
of 9.4 per cent. There are over 200 peptide-based
therapies in early clinical development (phase 1 and We believe that the Indian market is one of several
earlier) where Bio-Works’ products can provide geographies where Bio-Works can provide real,
real savings in terms of cost-of-manufacturing differentiated value to customers. We are a company
and product yield. This market is underserved by that is highly focused on personalized customer
traditional resin suppliers and Bio-Works can offer service, and we believe that the Indian market is
users a combination of best-in-class products and one where we can forge strong relationships with
a strong internal knowledge. In March, we will be purification teams who deserve a higher level of
launching a screening kit for peptide purification service than what traditional resin suppliers have
applications, which will make it easier for purification been providing. India is an important part of the
scientists to select the right resin for their particular biotechnology industry and its significance is
peptide structure. Similar dynamics exist in the poised to increase in the coming years due to the
oligonucleotides market, which is expected to grow high level of skill and competence present in local
even faster with an annual growth rate of 13.7 per organizations.
cent. Biogen’s approval of Spinraza in late 2016 has
fuelled a renewed interest in oligonucleotides in What are the current challenges facing Bio-
therapeutic applications, and Bio-Works’ products Works in the Indian market?
have shown similar performance advantages in
oligonucleotide purification as with peptides. We Bio-Works biggest challenge in India and several
see that developers of oligonucleotides are actively other markets has been related to our lack of local
searching for new and better solutions, and we presence. This is something we are working hard
believe that Bio-Works can step in and fulfill this to change by hiring skilled team members, who are
need with our existing products and by offering close to customers and who can provide the type of
customized solutions to these users. personalized service that I mentioned previously. Our
products are highly competitive, in many cases best-
Which are the leading markets for Bio-Works in-class, but we must ensure local availability and
support if we are to be considered when purification
currently? Are you planning to enter more scientists are making their selection of tools.

countries? What are your views on the growth of the
Indian biosuppliers market catering to the life
Our sales are well distributed across the globe, sciences industry?
and we are growing in all markets. Certainly, our
recent investments in the US market are expected The market is clearly developing quickly, but it is
to return positive results to the company, but we see important that users consider the reliability and
opportunities across Asia with India as one of the longevity of the suppliers that they work with. Many
key markets and Europe as well. This year, we will companies “burn out” and disappear, and that can
leave users in a predicament if they have designed
definitely add a local resource processes around tools that are suddenly not
in the UK market and we are available. At the same time, sticking to traditional
currently looking at distributor suppliers, who have been in the business for
agreements to expand our reach 50+ years can have its downsides as well. Large,
in areas where we currently do not established companies do not always have strong
have coverage. incentives to drive technological development,
as they must focus on protecting their existing
business from cannibalization. Striking a balance is
important when choosing and oftentimes the best
choice of supplier is made by finding a ‘rising star’

who has been around long enough to be
established but still has a strong interest
in furthering technology development
through organic investments and/
or tight collaboration with users of
chromatography resins.
Dr Manbeena Chawla
[email protected]

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2021 | www.biospectrumindia.com DIGITALIZATION 43

Pharma R&D: Taking the digital route

With the integrated predictive analytics available «
today, health-specific data can be used for generating
invaluable clinical insights to tackle various disease Arno Tellmann,
burdens with novel strategic approaches.
Head of Novartis
Drug development is considered one of the
most critical engines that drives the growth Global Drug
story of pharmaceutical industry. Penetration
and adoption of emerging technologies, like artificial Development (GDD),
intelligence and machine learning combined with data-
reliant predictive analyses, is expected to transform India, Hyderabad
pharmaceutical R&D operational models.
spending on Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual
Digital revolution: Pacing it up Reality (VR) was $7.5 billion in 2019. The purpose of
this investment is to ensure that companies are better
The global pharmaceutical industry has been shoring able to communicate new clinical data and use this
up their R&D capabilities through steady inflow of data for accurate analysis. The Novartis innovation lab
investments and resource developments, especially in Hyderabad, India is working with external partners
in emerging markets in the Asia Pacific region. In to enable rapid proof-of-concept digital solutions.
fact in India, Novartis has a digital hub called Biome One example of this is the mixed reality solution to
India, which is aimed at establishing a network troubleshoot in real time the problems in R&D labs by
between Novartis and external partners from across experts located anywhere in the world, to improve cycle
the digital ecosystem. This is the first such hub in Asia time and quality of laboratory activities.
and owing to India’s technological capabilities, offers
great opportunities to provide patients with digital-led Emerging markets supported by effective digital
solutions. Clearly, there is a digital revolution on the ecosystems are implementing innovative technologies
horizon and countries are keenly embracing it to stay for pharmaceutical research with greater efficacy.
ahead of the curve. Consequently, with the increase in the adoption of
analytics and automation tools, there is a greater need for
Digital in pharma R&D talent that is adept at programming and analyzing health
data. The APAC region is home to immense talent pool
Pharmaceutical research costs the industry billions of in biosciences, computer sciences and data analytics,
dollars in drug development research. In contrast, the and this advantage will allow for quicker adoption of big
innovation progress is slow and the introduction of new data technologies by pharmaceutical companies.
molecular entities is low. One solution, and possibly
a game-changer in pharmaceutical research, is the Post pandemic: Shifting industry’s focus
potential for mining and processing health-data assets
such as molecular pathways, DNA mutations, and gene Since last year, pharma industry has had to prioritize
expression, with the help of cutting-edge technologies. critical R&D efforts and essential projects in the
The opportunity to combine ever-growing data sources, drug development pipeline, supported by changing
increasing digital power, and evolving technological guidelines from regulatory authorities. With industry’s
sophistication of service providers, makes way for a emphasis on accelerating the product pipeline to
compelling R&D strategy for pharma companies. respond to this evolving situation, failures will have to
be detected sooner and greater accuracy of targeting
Health data can be organized into structured as well will become critical. Here, the use of digital tools will
as unstructured datasets, and with the help of integrated become core enablers for us to gain access to real-
predictive analytics, using artificial intelligence and time information on clinical trials, to enhance our
machine learning algorithms, it can be analyzed to understanding of both the effectiveness and exactitude
uncover complex patterns for generating invaluable of a potential product as well as its side effects. Today,
clinical insights. Concurrently, such evaluation can also digital tools have become imperatives not only for
increase our understanding of how to gather datasets better patient outcomes but also for long-term business
from clinical trials in combination with other data success. What is required for us as an industry is not just
sources in a better manner. To give some perspective to accept digital as a simple combination of individual
of the immense potential-in Asia Pacific (APAC), tools but as the silver bullet to reinvent ourselves.

44 PEOPLE NEWS BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2021 | www.biospectrumindia.com

S. Sridhar takes over as OPPI President

The Organisation of for the past six years and has also
Pharmaceutical Producers of chaired its Finance and Taxation
India (OPPI), which represents Work Group. Sridhar is a strong
research-based pharmaceutical voice of healthcare transformation
companies in the country, has in the country and was the chair
elected S. Sridhar as its next of FICCI’s Pharma Committee till
President. The term is for a period recently. Sridhar is a Chartered
of two years and is effective from Accountant and has led various
February 15, 2021. He takes finance roles before joining the
over from Sharad Tyagi, former Pfizer Ltd 13 years ago. At Pfizer
Managing Director, Boehringer Ltd, he expanded from his role
Ingelheim India. Sridhar is the as Chief Financial Officer to
Managing Director of Pfizer Business Unit head, took over the
Limited and is heading Pfizer Inc’s responsibility as the Managing
commercial business in India. Director of India Commerical
Sridhar has been a member of Business, a position he has been
the Executive Committee of OPPI holding for the past five years.

Aster DM brings Sudarshan Jain
takes charge as IGBA
David Boucher on board Chairperson 2021

Aster DM Healthcare, with presence in India and IGBA, the International Generic and Biosimilar
Middle East, has announced the appointment Medicines Association, representing global
of David Boucher, a global leader in healthcare manufacturers of generic and biosimilar medicines,
service excellence and medical value tourism, has announced that Sudarshan Jain, Secretary
in an effort to strengthen its patient and General of the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance
customer service offering and enable wider (IPA), is taking over the position of IGBA Chair
access to its quality healthcare services to for 2021 from Hanan Sboul, Secretary General
patients across the world. Working closely with of the Jordanian Association of Pharmaceutical
Manufacturers. The incoming IGBA Chair
the strategic leadership team of Sudarshan Jain is a well-known veteran in the
the organisation, he would be pharmaceutical industry and brings with him
responsible for fostering and decades of strong leadership and drug policy
driving a culture of patient/ experience. Jain’s current Board engagements
customer centricity, while include Abbott India, Healthium (Apax portfolio
improving patient experience company), Zandu Chemicals, Indian
across markets. With more than Institute of Health Management
four decades of experience in the Research - Jaipur, Indian
area of patient excellence and Education Society (IES),
business transformation, Boucher Advisory Board of Narsee
has provided both operational and Monjee University, Mumbai
strategic leadership at various roles (NMIMS). He is the visiting
with healthcare organisations across the world. faculty at Indian Institute
He last served as Chief Business Transformation of Management (IIM),
Officer at Bumrungrad International Hospital Ahmedabad. He has
in Bangkok, Thailand. Prior to that he served contributed in shaping
as President and Chief Operating Officer of the healthcare policy
UCI Medical Affiliates, Columbia, US and held and improving access
several leadership roles with various healthcare to healthcare in India.
organisations like BlueCross BlueShield of
South Carolina, Columbia, Companion Global
Healthcare among others.

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2021 | www.biospectrumindia.com PEOPLE NEWS 45

Roche Diagnostics appoints HCG ropes
Narendra Varde as India MD in Raj Gore
as CEO
Roche Diagnostics India, part of the Roche
Group, has announced the appointment HealthCare Global
of Narendra Varde as Managing Director (HCG) Enterprises
for India and Neighbouring Markets. This Limited has announced
appointment comes into play after Dr the joining of Raj Gore
Shravan Subramanyam left this position to as the Chief Executive
join in as President & CEO, GE Healthcare Officer (CEO) from
India & South Asia and Managing Director, February 1, 2021. Gore
Wipro GE Healthcare. Varde joins Roche has a 17-year track record
Diagnostics from Abbott Diagnostics in healthcare business
India where he was General Manager & management spanning
Country Head. He has a total of 15 years North America, Asia,
working experience in the IVD, Medical and Africa. He has led
Devices & Pharmaceutical industries, business transformation
most recently at Abbott Diagnostics India. and financial turnaround
In the past, he also served as Regional mandates, including post-
Country Manager for Abbott Point of Care acquisition integration
Diagnostics business in the UK, France for acquired healthcare
and Ireland. He is strongly qualified to companies in India,
take on this role given his strong focus on Mauritius, and Vietnam.
leading with innovation, drive to deliver Gore joins HCG from
value to customers and focus to improve Apollo Hospitals, where he
quality of lives for patients. was CEO for the Southern
Region, responsible for
Sai Life Sciences adds Dr Mahavir Apollo’s largest region
Prashad to scientific team with 15 facilities across
Tamil Nadu and Andhra
Hyderabad based Sai Life Sciences has announced the addition of Dr Pradesh. Prior to Apollo
Mahavir Prashad, an acknowledged scientific leader and industry veteran, Hospitals, Gore was Chief
to its scientific leadership team as Vice President of Early Phase Process Growth Officer (India) &
Development. With over three decades of experience in advanced research, Chief Operating Officer –
and roles of increasing responsibility in one of the world’s leading NCR at Fortis Healthcare.
pharmaceutical companies, Dr Prashad will provide impetus to Sai Life
Sciences’ growing capabilities and help accelerate the drug development
programmes of its customers. Dr Prashad is a recognised
leader in chemical process R&D and leveraging green
chemistry principles and modern technologies in API
synthesis. He possesses an excellent scientific track
record through 94 publications, 4 review articles, 1
book chapter, 71 patent/applications, and 10 invited
lectures at scientific conferences. He was awarded
Novartis Leading Scientist award in 2002 and
also the 2010 Diversity & Inclusion award of the
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. Dr Prashad
has a PhD in Organic Chemistry from the Central
Drug Research Institute in Lucknow, India
and was awarded a Post-Doctoral
Research Fellowship at Duke
University in North Carolina, US.

46 R&D NEWS BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2021 | www.biospectrumindia.com

IISc uses IIT-G designs novel
computer healthcare device
simulations
to study HIV A research team from Indian innovation serves a potential
Institute of Technology, tool for healthcare management
An interdisciplinary team Guwahati (IIT-G) has gained remotely, taking care of physical
of researchers at the Indian entry to the global Charm as well as social distancing
Institute of Science (IISc) in Health Innovation Challenge norms. The device developed
Bengaluru has used robust for developing a device by the scholars is capable of
computer simulations to capable of remotely carrying remotely doing primary health
understand how human out primary health check-up, check-up.
immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a solution, which could help
the virus that causes acquired reach a large rural population.
immunodeficiency syndrome The idea involves a benchtop
(AIDS), fuses with the host cell digital setup integrated with
membrane. The study focuses on an algorithm to record initial
a process called gp41–mediated screening parameters like body
membrane fusion. Gp41, a core temperature, pulse rate, eye
component of the HIV envelope and tongue analysis of a patient
protein (Env), is essential for remotely. Further, a robust
the viral membrane to fuse with algorithm along with cloud
the cell membrane of the host’s interfacing is expected to enable
immune cell, called T cell. This the device to store large volumes
step is critical for HIV to invade of health data for future benefit.
and subsequently replicate A situation like COVID-19
within the host cell. Using demands human interactions
mathematical calculations, the to be as minimal as possible.
team found that the presence of In view of this, the current
Gp41 (glycoprotein 41) reduces
the energy required for fusion by CUSAT finds ways to
about four-fold, thereby making recycle medical masks
this process more favourable.
Currently, the team is working The researchers at Cochin University of Science and Technology
on identifying mutations that can (CUSAT) have developed an innovative method to recycle these
be introduced in Gp41 to block used medical face masks as engineering products. According to the
the fusion step. They are also researchers, plastic fibres separated from the used medical face masks
hoping to develop antibodies
that can prevent infection. could be blended with rubber to
make polymer compounds and
manufacture engineering products.
The plastic fibres separated from the
used medical face masks collected
from various sources could be
chopped and blended with rubber
to make polymer blends with high
tensile strength, impact strength
and thermal properties. This can
be used to manufacture high-
performance engineering products such as car bumpers, dashboards,
fighter jets and submarines as protective shielding to evade radar
signals. However, the face masks collected from the medical and
municipal waste should be adequately disinfected before the studies
for ensuring safety.

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2021 | www.biospectrumindia.com R&D NEWS 47

IIT-D provides solution for implant associated infection

A study by a research group at polymeric implant, which is Using the polyester as a scaffold,
the Department of Materials modified with anti-infective infection resistant polymer
Science and Engineering, Indian polymer brushes. The implant brushes are chemically bonded to
Institute of Technology, Delhi itself is fabricated from a blend its surface. The surface tethered
(IIT-D) has proposed a non- of completely biodegradable brushes, fabricated from poly[(2-
leachable antimicrobial coating polyesters, i.e., polyester of methacryloyloxyethyl] trimethyl
as a measure to deal with the tartaric acid - a natural acid ammonium chloride) (PMETA),
danger of infections related to found in tomatoes, grapes and are of nanometre dimensions,
implants. The team has created raw mangoes and polylactic acid which possess antibacterial
a biodegradable 3D printed originated from corn starch. activity.

IIT-Mandi makes IIT-M develops
ultrasound based
home quarantine temperature tracker

management app Researchers of the Indian Institute of Technology,
Madras (IIT-M) have developed an ultrasound-based
A team of engineers at the Indian Institute temperature tracking for treatment monitoring.
of Technology (IIT), Mandi has developed Unlike other imaging modalities, ultrasound
LakshmanRekha, an artificial intelligence (AI) combines several advantages such as safety (non-
biometric driven home quarantine management ionising), real-time capability and portability, among
application (HQMA) for COVID-19 patients. others. This solution involves obtaining diagnostic
The developed application uses a combination ultrasound signals from the tissue region of interest
of biometric verification, geofencing, and AI, inside the body, where heating is applied non-
to continuously monitor and accurately detect invasively from outside either through microwave
the identity of a home quarantined person. In applicator or High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound
addition to the quarantine management, this (HIFU), and process these signals, specifically, using
application can also serve as an unbreachable prior knowledge from physics of wave interaction with
mobile phone platform for normal (non- the tissue medium. The ultrasound-based real-time
COVID) mobile users, situations like under feedback can be readily integrated with low-intensity
curfew, or any national emergency, for ultrasound heat therapy devices that are commonly
identifying the violators or lawbreakers. The used in most physiotherapy centres. The researchers’
researchers have developed a pilot version of contribution is to monitor this in real-time when,
LakshmanRekha mobile application and tested specifically, microwave is used. This combination
it over small datasets. The obtained results are makes it completely non-invasive and affordable.
very good and now they are working to add
more functionality, scalability and usability to
make it ready for deployment.

48 ACADEMICS NEWS BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2021 | WWW.BIOSPECTRUMINDIA.COM

ICMR-RMRC, NECHRI, IIT-G ink
Bhubaneswar MoU for cancer research
offers new
PhD courses Indian Institute of Technology, 500 cancer samples from patients
Guwahati (IIT-G), has signed a registered with from NECHRI. The
A Memorandum, Memorandum of Understanding researchers and students involved
Bhubaneswar of (MoU) with North East Cancer in this collaboration are currently
Understanding (MoU) has Hospital and Research Institute examining these samples to identify
been signed between the (NECHRI), Jorabat, Assam. novel prognosis, therapeutic and
Fakir Mohan University The collaboration between IIT, recurrence biomarkers for the
and the Regional Medical Guwahati and NECHRI started better management of the patients
Research Centre (RMRC) in 2014. Both IIT, Guwahati and from North East region.
of Indian Council Medical NECHRI have been engaged in
Research (ICMR) for identifying novel biomarkers
research and exchange for cancer diagnosis, prognosis,
of knowledge and therapy and recurrence. Both the
information. The MoU institutes have also been engaged
would focus on joint PhD in identifying cancer susceptible
programmes in area of population from North East India.
biotechnology, life science, The MoU will enable IIT, Guwahati
public health and other and NECHRI to strengthen more
related subjects. Joint collaborations and to help cancer
seminars, workshops, patients from North East region. The
conferences, scholars institute has already obtained over
exchange etc. will be
undertaken. The students SHA launches Asia’s 1st
and faculty members are Masters Programme in
intended to be hugely Expressive Movement Therapy
benefited through the
collaboration, which was Sancheti Healthcare Academy (SHA) has announced the launch of Asia’s 1st
long overdue and the Masters Programme in Expressive Movement Therapy (dance therapy) fully
MoU will benefit all the approved by Pune University. This news comes after five years of relentless
stakeholders considering effort in building a strong foundation towards developing this course and
that local problems would
be given the top most the awareness about the use of creative art
research and development therapies in the healthcare sector. The use of
priority. dance therapy has now widespread application
in medical and mental healthcare system. It
is also used widely for introducing creative
tools in pedagogy and detecting issues in
early childhood. Dance therapy becomes an
adjunctive tool both for diagnosis and as well
as treatment in non-intimidating ways to
children, adolescents, young professionals,
senior citizens, special populations, patients
suffering from chronic diseases and prolonged
hospitalisation. It allows for effective ways to
keep the individual or group motivated and
mentally resilient to respond to medical care. This course offers highest quality
education at extremely affordable prices to students. It also prepares India
with the much needed army of healthcare professionals, who understand
holistic healthcare and work the beautiful balance of science and art.

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2021 | www.biospectrumindia.com SUPPLIERS NEWS 49

Waters unveils new liquid chromatography solution

Waters has launched Acquity the system and column. By mitigating,
Premier Liquid Chromatography or eliminating altogether, non-specific
Solution, which combines the adsorption, the Acquity Premier
Acquity Premier System with Acquity Solution offers increased analyte
Premier Columns with MaxPeak recovery with 10-100X improvement
HPS technology. It is designed to in detection sensitivity for low-level
alleviate the problem of analyte/metal phosphorylated and carboxylated
surface interactions when analysing analytes. The other benefits include
organic acids, organophosphates, sharper peak shapes and greater peak
oligonucleotides, phosphopeptides, capacity for more accurate analyte
acidic glycans and phospholipids identification and data interpretation;
by reversed-phase and hydrophilic greater reproducibility for separations
interaction chromatography. prone to adsorptive losses meaning
MaxPeak HPS technology is a hybrid less re-work or troubleshooting; and
organic/inorganic surface technology no more system passivation to waste
that forms a barrier between the valuable sample material or tie up
sample and the metal surfaces of both instrument cycles.

Agilent brings Thermo Fisher develops
T-cell medium for
enhanced automation cell therapy workflows

software solutions Thermo Fisher Scientific has developed a new
medium for the development and expansion of
Agilent Technologies Inc. has announced the human T lymphocytes (T-cells) for cell therapy
release of MassHunter Workstation Plus 11.0, developers using allogeneic workflows. The
MassHunter Networked Workstation 11.0, and Gibco CTS OpTmizer Pro Serum Free Media
MassHunter BioConfirm. The latest revision of (SFM) is a first-of-its-kind media-solution that
these software enables data integrity consistent targets the metabolism of healthy donor cells,
with the regulatory requirements from the US making it ideally suited for use in the production
FDA and EU EMEA guidance, providing user of allogeneic, off-the-shelf cell therapies. In
management, checksums, tamper detection, contrast to autologous cell therapies, which are
and audit trails for MassHunter Acquisition, produced using a patient’s own cells, allogeneic
Quantitative Analysis, and MassHunter cell therapies are derived from healthy donor
BioConfirm. First shipments are expected in June, tissue, potentially enabling more scalable, cost-
with quotes available in May. In conjunction, effective cell therapy manufacturing. The Gibco
Agilent has released VWorks 14.0 Plus, which CTS OpTmizer Pro SFM enhances donor T-cell
introduces compliance-enabling features built for proliferation, maintains central memory T-cells
the Agilent Bravo Automated Liquid Handling further into expansion, and delays effector
Platform. VWorks Plus extends enabling differentiation of healthy donor T-cells, resulting
compliance to automated sample prep on the in faster, increased production of central
Bravo and has begun shipping to customers in memory cells. The Gibco CTS OpTmizer Pro SFM
mid-February 2021. packaging is suited for closed systems and is
manufactured in conformity with current Good
Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) standards. This
serum free media is ready to use and compatible
with automated and longer workflows, providing
a consistent, cost-effective formulation that
maintains cell quality and increases the efficacy of
cell-based therapies.

50 SUPPLIERS NEWS BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2021 | www.biospectrumindia.com

Godrej Envirotainer sets up
Appliances service station in Bengaluru
ramps up for vaccine producers
global vaccine
cold chain Envirotainer, the global temperature-sensitive
market leader and by far the COVID-19 vaccine shipments
Godrej Appliances has added largest provider of secure across the world. The new
state-of-the-art ultra-low cold chain solutions for air station is operational and
temperature freezers to its portfolio, transport of pharmaceuticals, will, in addition to the RAP
strengthening the vaccine cold have announced that they e2, also carry the smaller
chain further. These advanced are expanding their global RKN e1, heating and cooling
medical freezers can preserve life- station network by adding container. The RAP e2 is the
saving medical supplies including a third station in India, this most environmentally friendly
critical vaccines below -80°C time in the city of Bengaluru. temperature-controlled air
and are aimed at boosting both Bengaluru becomes the 43rd cargo container available
Indian and global medical cold station in the Envirotainer in the market. Delivering
chain. The ultra-low temperature network to carry the flagship pharmaceuticals using the
freezers are a new addition to RAP e2, which is currently Envirotainer RAP e2 emits
this portfolio and are particularly commonly used for the 0.9kg CO2e per vial shipped.
suited to mRNA-based vaccines,
which are being deployed in other Elan Professional launches
countries currently. The mRNA- portable vaccine freezers
based COVID-19 vaccines are
extremely temperature-sensitive Gurugram based Elan Professional Appliances has launched two
as well and must be stored at very portable COVID-19 Vaccine Freezers, an IoT-enabled Portable
cold temperatures. The operating COVID-19 vaccine freezer with temperature range from 2 °C to -20
principle for the Godrej Ultra Low °C and a portable COVID vaccine freezer maintaining temperature
Temperature freezer is a cascading only at –86 °C. Both the portable products are equipped with
system having a PHE (plate heat advanced features maintaining efficiency and efficacy of the
exchanger) as a heat exchanger vaccine. The newly launched products are light weight and can be
between the primary and the installed easily. Additionally, the freezer can also be used for other
secondary system. This lowers the vaccines. Another benefiting feature of the product is that it can
standing pressure of the secondary easily be converted into a refrigerator. The product comes with an
system leading to lowering of IoT-enabled remote, which helps in monitoring temperature as
temperature. The current capacity per the requirement. The freezer runs on vehicle batteries. Also,
for Ultra Low Temperature Freezers this highly advanced product sends a notification via email and
is 12,000 units per annum, which SMS if the temperature variance is observed. It is also equipped
Godrej Appliances is working with an alarm to alert for variance in temperature monitoring. The
towards quickly ramping up to newly launched product is also embedded with a data logger. These
30,000 units per annum, to meet solutions come from 2 litres to 100 litres battery freezers.
the growing global demand.


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