BioSpectrum India December 2020

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4 BIO CONTENT BIOSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2020 | www.biospectrumindia.com

COVERSTORY 22.........................................................................................................................................................

INDIAN BIOSUPPLIERS

MARKET GROWING AT 9% CROSSES

RS 8600 CRORE

The biosciences revenue of the Indian BioSuppliers market touched Rs 8666 COVER
crore in 2019-20 registering a growth of 9 per cent over the previous year’s DESIGN BY:
figure of Rs 7950 crore in 2018-19. The market registered a growth of 6 per cent DOMINIX STRATEGIC
in 2018-19 over the previous year’s figure of Rs 7500 crore. The government’s DESIGN PVT. LTD.
allocation of Rs 1,900 crore ($ 0.27 billion) for research in the Union Budget
2019-20 and Rs 62,659 crore ($ 8.96 billion) allocated for Ministry of Health and
Family Welfare have helped the biosuppliers to see some good growth during
the year as against the growth rate witnessed in 2018-19.

25 26 27 28 29

SARTORIUS SHIMADZU CORNING WEST PHARMACEUTICAL TOSHVIN
STEDIM ANALYTICAL TECHNOLOGIES PACKAGING INDIA ANALYTICAL
INDIA PVT LTD INDIA PVT LTD INDIA PVT LTD PVT LTD PVT LTD

SIBASIS DAS YOSHIYUKI FUJINO SUDHIR PILLAI ALAGU SUBRAMANIAM NAKUL TOSHNIWAL
Sales Director (BioProcess Managing Director Managing Director Managing Director Managing Director
Solution) India, SAARC

30 31 32 33 34

DSS PREMAS EPPENDORF GENETIX SAKSHAM
IMAGETECH LIFE SCIENCES INDIA PRIVATE BIOTECH TECHNOLOGIES
PVT LTD PVT LTD LIMITED ASIA PVT LTD PVT LTD

AJAY KANDHARI PRAVEEN GUPTA V ARUN PRAKASH SAMEER MAHESHWARI
Managing Director Managing Director SANKARANARAYANAN Chief Executive Officer Chief – Customer Support
Head of Sales

BIOSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2020 | www.biospectrumindia.com BIO CONTENT 5

35 35 36 TOPVIDEO Dr Shuchin Bajaj,
Founder Director,
IMPERIAL ESCO MEDISPEC Ujala Cygnus
LIFE SCIENCES BIOTECH (I) LTD. Hospitals, New
PVT LTD PVT LTD Delhi shares his
views on the
S K GUPTA SAMEER MAHESHWARI VIPUL CHATBAR current scenario of
Founder & CEO Chief – Customer Support Chief Executive Officer COVID-19 vaccine
development
36 37 37 across the globe.

PROMEGA ANALYTICAL DSS
BIOTECH TECHNOLOGIES TAKARA BIO
INDIA PVT LTD LTD INDIA PVT LTD

DR RAJNISH BHARTI SIVA PRASAD PATNAM HARKARAN DHINGRA Scan the QR Code »
General Manager Chief Executive Officer Director
Kamya Elawadhi,
38 38 39 Vice President,
Customer Success,
APS LIFETECH BIOLINX BIO AGE Doceree, New Delhi
INDIA EQUIPMENTS talks about the
PVT LTD & SERVICES role of healthcare
professionals
(HCP) marketing
in the pharma
industry.

DR PARITOSH GIRISH NAIR SHASHI KUMAR RANA
SHEKHAR Director Chief Executive Officer
Director
40 NEW PRODUCTS Scan the QR Code »
38
SUPPORTING Dr Raghunath SK,
BHAT INNOVATION IN 2021 Senior Consultant,
BIO-TECH Uro Oncology, HCG
INDIA PVT LTD Cancer Centre,
Bengaluru reveals
PAVAN KUMAR M details about
Executive Director robotic surgery
to treat prostate
REGULARS cancer.

BioEdit .................................. 06 World News.......................... 17 Scan the QR Code »
BioMail ................................. 08 WHO News........................... 19
Policy & Regulatory News... 10 People News........................ 46
Company News.................... 12 R&D News............................. 48
Finance News....................... 14 Academic News................... 50
Start-up News...................... 15

6 BIO EDIT BIOSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2020 | www.biospectrumindia.com

Learning it the hard way!

First a disclaimer. Whatever the best, HR in healthcare. Reports of how several vacant
widespread and far reaching healthcare positions were not being filled on time, kept
system a country may have, still, it may prove appearing in the media. Filling the vacancies on
to be inadequate in a pandemic when millions time is just one aspect of the shortcomings. Another
of people require serious medical attention and important exercise that is required is to re-examine
treatment in a restricted time frame. No healthcare the patients-staff ratio to reconsider the ideal
infrastructure can be developed presuming that strength of professionals required.
sometime in a half century or a century, some
pandemic will hit the society requiring millions This all will require more investment in the
of patients to be treated in a short span of time. public health system. Government’s per capita
This will require huge funds and most of the spending has almost doubled from Rs 1008 to Rs
infrastructure will remain unutilised for most of the 1944 per person, from 2015 to 2020. The total
time. expenditure by the Centre and states for FY 20 was
only 1.29 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product
The gaps and shortcomings in our healthcare (GDP). However, according to the Organisation for
system that were seen and are being witnessed Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD),
during the pandemic, need serious attention for India’s total healthcare spending (private and
improvement as early as possible. One long-lasting public) is at 3.6 per cent of GDP, which is way lower
memory of the outgoing year will be how COVID-19 than the average for OECD countries reported in
harshly impacted the healthcare system and caused 2018 as 8.8 per cent of GDP.
every segment of the economy to take a severe
beating for three quarters of the year. Apart from the improvements in infrastructure
and HR, the conceptual thrust should be shifted
One important inadequacy that got highlighted from disease cure to prevention and health
was the limitations of the private healthcare management. The pandemic has also exposed
system in spite of it getting promoted by successive the overall indiscipline of the people. Failing
governments in the last few years. Public health to maintain social distance, not using masks,
system played an important role during the congregating in groups and, to top it all, not
pandemic, providing the much needed relief to the observing quarantine were commonplace behaviour.
people, to even the non-COVID patients. On the
whole, the authorities need to recognise their role An article in the prestigious medical journal,
and provide funds to strengthen, improve and widen ‘The Lancet’ in April 2020, attributes the cases of
the healthcare infrastructure in India. Learning its people escaping hospitals and quarantine, among
lessons from the pandemic, the Maharashtra state others, to a trust deficit in the public health system.
government has announced its decision to convert Increasing expenditure in the public health system
one of its temporary COVID centres in Mumbai into is key to building the trust, the article quotes
a permanent hospital for infectious diseases. It is a experts’ opinion. The government aims to increase
good initiative, but should not remain merely as an its budget allocation on healthcare to 2.5 per cent of
announcement for a long time. GDP by 2025. Maybe the government would have to
advance the time frame in view of the pandemic.
The existing human resources (HR) in the
healthcare system – public as well as private – The outgoing year’s grim memory of the pandemic
have performed their duties efficiently and with should also be looked at as an important lesson
commitment by serving the COVID-19 patients, in public health and should be used to drastically
with few of the medical staff members even losing change and improve it.
their lives. Apart from the infrastructure, another
issue that came to the fore, was the shortage of Dr Milind Kokje
Chief Editor

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8 BIO MAIL BIOSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2020 | www.biospectrumindia.com

Vol 18; Issue 11; November 2020 Corrigendum

Acknowledgements This is in reference to the cover
story titled ‘Regulate Medical
The coverage on Stempeutics has come Aesthetics’ in the November
out nicely. Also there is a good coverage edition of BioSpectrum
on Covid-19 in the November edition. India, please read the name
of the company as Allergan
- B N Manohar, Bengaluru Aesthetics instead of Allergan-
AbbVie covered in the box
The cover story on medical aesthetics under the LEADING GLOBAL
has been covered well. Thank you for PLAYERS OF MEDICAL
the Allergan feature. AESTHETIC DEVICES on page
no 24. The error is regretted.
- Kripa Williams, Bengaluru
– Editor
Thank you so much for the feature on
IQVIA and virtual clinical trials.

- Melissa Arulappan, Bengaluru

Vol 18; Issue 12; December 2020 MM Activ Sci-Tech Communications

Publisher & Managing Editor: South Region New Delhi INTERNATIONAL
Ravindra Boratkar Alok Srivastava Dr Manbeena Chawla
National Business Head- Executive Editor Singapore
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10 POLICY AND REGULATORY NEWS BIOSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2020 | www.biospectrumindia.com

Health Ministry unveils NPPA sets up price
website on repurposed monitoring unit in Goa
drugs for COVID-19
A price monitoring and resource unit (PMRU)
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has has been set up in Goa under the aegis of National
launched a website that gives comprehensive Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), Department
information about the numerous COVID-19 of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and
clinical trials that Council of Scientific and Fertilizers, Government of India. NPPA, in coordination
Industrial Research (CSIR) is engaged in with Goa State Drug Control Department, has set up
partnership with industry, other government a PMRU that will function at the state level under the
departments and ministries. Called CuRED direct supervision of the State Drug Controller for
or CSIR Ushered Repurposed Drugs, the increasing outreach of NPPA. PMRUs are societies
website provides information about the drugs, registered under the Societies Registration Act having its
diagnostics and devices including the current own Memorandum of Association/ Bye laws. The Board
stage of the trials, partnering institutions and of Governors of PMRU includes the representatives from
their role in the trials and other details. CSIR is central government and state government concerned
exploring multiple combination clinical trials of and other stakeholders. NPPA has already set up
anti-virals with host-directed therapies for the PMRUs in 15 states/ UTs, viz., Kerala, Odisha, Gujarat,
potential treatment of COVID-19. CSIR is also Rajasthan, Haryana, Nagaland, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh,
working with the Ministry of AYUSH for clinical Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Mizoram, Jammu & Kashmir,
trials of AYUSH drugs and has undertaken Karnataka, Telangana and Maharashtra. NPPA has
safety and efficacy trials of prophylactics and plans to set up PMRUs in all the 36 states/ UTs in the
therapeutics based on individual plant-based country. The expenses of PMRUs, both recurring and
compounds and in combination. In addition to non-recurring are borne by NPPA under the scheme.
clinical trials of repurposed drugs and vaccines, Till now NPPA is headquartered at Delhi and with the
CSIR has been involved in clinical trials of setting up of PMRUs in states/ UTs, NPPA shall have
diagnostics and devices. outreach at state level as well. The PMRUs are expected
to strengthen drug security and affordability at regional
levels. The primary function of PMRUs is to assist NPPA
in monitoring of prices of drugs, ensuring availability of
drugs and raising consumer awareness.

Cabinet approves health MoU between India & Cambodia

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime The main areas of cooperation between
Minister Narendra Modi has approved the two governments include mother
the signing of the Memorandum of and child health; family planning; HIV/
Understanding (MoU) between India and AIDS and TB; drugs and pharmaceuticals;
Cambodia on cooperation in the field of technology transfer; public health and
health and medicine. The bilateral MoU epidemiology; disease control; medical
will encourage cooperation between the research and development, medical
two countries through joint initiatives education; health manpower development
and technology development in the health in the field of public health; training in
sector. It will strengthen bilateral ties clinical, para-clinical and management
between India and Cambodia. The MoU skills; and any other area of cooperation as
shall remain in force for a period of five years. may be mutually decided upon.

BIOSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2020 | www.biospectrumindia.com POLICY AND REGULATORY NEWS 11

DST makes S&T infrastructure more accessible to startups

The startups and industries will S&T infrastructural requirements
soon have access to equipment
and Science & Technology of startups and industries. It
(S&T) infrastructure in different
institutions, universities, and will also link up programmes
colleges spread all over the
country to carry out experiments like Fund for Improvement of
and tests they require for their
R&D, technology, and product S&T Infrastructure in Higher
development. The Department
of Science & Technology (DST) Educational Institutions
is restructuring its FIST (Fund
for Improvement of S&T (FIST), Sophisticated Analytical
Infrastructure in universities and
higher educational institutions) Instrument Facilities (SAIF),

and Sophisticated Analytical &

programme under which it Technical Help Institutes (SATHI),
supports scaling up of the network
of infrastructural facilities all of which are designed to set
for teaching and research in
universities and higher educational up S&T infrastructure centres
institutions to cater to high-end
at different levels –department,

university, regional and national

level respectively.

Govt launches India-NATHEALTH
Rs 10,000 Cr fund for puts forward
cooperatives healthcare recommendations to
galvanize senior care
The government has launched Ayushman
Sahakar, a unique scheme to assist cooperatives Recognizing the urgent need for
play an important role in creation of healthcare immediate action on senior and
infrastructure in the country formulated by the elderly care in India, healthcare
apex autonomous development finance institution federation of India-NATHEALTH
under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers has convened a cross-sectorial
Welfare, the National Cooperative Development national forum, which brings
Corporation (NCDC). NCDC would extend term together all the key stakeholders
loans to prospective cooperatives to the tune of with relevant experience and
Rs 10,000 crore in the coming years. The scheme expertise in senior care. As part
would revolutionize the way healthcare delivery of is immediate initiatives, the
takes place in rural areas. The government has forum has assessed and put
also given a call to existing cooperatives to take up forth key recommendations to
healthcare services as an activity for farmers. There strengthen the Center’s Draft National Policy on
are about 52 hospitals across the country run by Senior Citizens, 2020. These recommendations
cooperatives. They have cumulative bed strength of are significant considering the changing
more than 5000. The NCDC fund would give a boost demographic pattern, socioeconomic needs
to provision of healthcare services by cooperatives. of the senior citizens, social value system,
Ayushman Sahakar specifically covers establishment, and advancement in the field of science and
modernization, expansion, repairs, renovation of technology over the last decade. The new policy
hospital and healthcare and education infrastructure. will replace the National Policy on Older Persons,
1999. The recommendations for areas that need
immediate intervention as suggested by the forum
are financial security, healthcare insurance,
shelter for senior citizens, rehab care, reskilling
and employment, capacity building, focus on
securing senior women citizens, investment in
technology and promoting innovation and role of
startups for elder care.

12 COMPANY NEWS BIOSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2020 | www.biospectrumindia.com

Medtronic introduces Zydus brings India’s
first pressurized
pacemaker that syncs metered dose inhaler

with smartphones Zydus Cadila has launched Forglyn pMDI, India’s
first pressurized Metered Dose Inhaler (pMDI) with
India Medtronic, a wholly owned subsidiary a combination of Long Acting Muscarinic Antagonist
of Medtronic plc, has announced the launch (LAMA) and Long Acting Beta Agonist (LABA) for patients
of the Azure pacemaker with BlueSync suffering from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
technology, India’s first and only pacemaker (COPD) in India. Forglyn pMDI is priced at Rs 495 per
that can communicate directly with patients’ pack and has been developed in-house using Ahmedabad
smartphones and tablets. The latest addition based Zydus’ innovations in formulation technology. The
administration of the two drugs Formoterol fumarate
to Medtronic’s Cardiac (LABA) + Glycopyrrolate (LAMA) in a single inhalation
Rhythm & Heart Failure will improve outcomes due to the desired synergistic effect
portfolio in India, Azure is of the two drugs and a better adherence to the treatment.
designed to accurately detect The novel process for Forglyn pMDI developed at the
and reduce the likelihood of group’s Pharmaceutical Technology Center, ensures that
atrial fibrillation. It offers delivery of the two drugs administered simultaneously
improved longevity up through the inhaler are consistent and uniform, which is
to 13.7 years, so patients critical for inhalation products. The process technology
potentially need fewer employed for the manufacturing of this product is simple,
device replacements and affordable and scalable. The company has also filed a
allows patients to have patent application for the novel process of this product.
magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI) scans in either 1.5
or 3 Tesla machines. Azure
features Medtronic-exclusive BlueSync
technology, which enables automatic, secure
wireless communication via Bluetooth
Low Energy and remote monitoring via the
Medtronic CareLink Network, providing more
timely alerts of clinically relevant patient
events that can be reviewed by a clinician
at any time. Security controls implemented
and validated on BlueSync enabled devices
include access restrictions to protect integrity
of device functionality and end-to end
encryption to protect patient data.

Dr. Reddy’s teams up with BIRAC
for advisory on Sputnik V trials

Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories has the vaccine, which are funded Reddy’s and Russia Direct
announced its partnership with under the National Biopharma Investment Fund (RDIF)
Biotechnology Industry Research Mission (NBM), implemented by have received approval
Assistance Council (BIRAC), Project Management Unit-NBM from the Drugs
Department of Biotechnology at BIRAC. Further, the company Controller General
(DBT), Government of India, will have access to Good of India (DCGI)
for advisory support on clinical Clinical Laboratory Practice to conduct an
trials of Sputnik V vaccine in (GCLP) labs to conduct adaptive Phase
India. The partnership will immunogenicity assay II/III human
allow the Hyderabad based testing of the clinical trial for
firm to identify and use some of vaccine. Sputnik V vaccine in
BIRAC’s clinical trial centres for Dr. India.

BIOSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2020 | www.biospectrumindia.com COMPANY NEWS 13

IAVI, Merck, Serum Institute ACG acquires
partner to develop significant
mAbs against COVID-19 stake in
IQGEN-X
The International AIDS Vaccine SII, the partners will conduct an
Initiative (IAVI) in the US and accelerated, integrated programme ACG has announced
Serum Institute of India (SII) of preclinical and clinical research acquisition of a significant
have announced an agreement to evaluate the antibodies for stake in Mumbai based
with Merck to develop SARS- treatment of COVID-19. A Phase startup IQGEN-X,
CoV-2 neutralising monoclonal I clinical trial is expected to start a contract research
early in 2021. Joining the partners organisation (CRO)
antibodies (mAbs) co-invented in this development effort are delivering niche and
by IAVI and Scripps Research as Syngene International, based in complex drug development
innovative interventions to address Bengaluru, and ATUM, a US based technologies for the
the COVID-19 pandemic. Under bioengineering company. Syngene pharmaceutical industry.
IAVI’s agreement with Merck and is a collaborating partner for the The funds infused by
development and conducting ACG will be utilised for
assays to support clinical setting up a current good
development of the SARS-CoV-2 manufacturing practice
mAb candidates, while ATUM has (cGMP) facility and also
utilised its Leap-In Transposase the development & filing
Platform to develop stable cell of abbreviated new drug
lines needed for the manufacture applications (ANDAs).
of the SARS-CoV-2 antibody The move sees Mumbai
candidates being advanced via this based ACG expanding
collaboration. further into the R&D side
of drug development and
Vishat Diagnostic partners supports a firm group-
with Korean firm for Ag test kits wide commitment to
improving customer
Genbody Inc., based in South Korea, has recently received approval from experiences throughout the
the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Drugs Controller supply and value chains.
General of India (DCGI) to supply its high accuracy antigen (Ag) test kits This partnership will
in India, named as Genbody Covid-19 AG. The medical diagnostic firm accelerate the innovation
has partnered with Mumbai based strategy at ACG of bold,
Vishat Diagnostic to distribute the disciplined investment and
test kits in India. To counter high world class execution to
rates of false negatives with antigen drive sustainable long-
tests, the company has designed this term growth with drug
kit to optimize for accurate results. companies in India and
The test yields specificity of 98 per global markets.
cent, sensitivity of 90 per cent and an
accuracy of 94 per cent making it one
of the most accurate antigen tests in
India. It also successfully validated
the stringent ICMR criteria for antigen tests approval. Genbody Covid-19
AG produces results within 15 minutes after the hospital takes a sample
from the patient’s nasal or throat with a swab. The kit is a point of care
test, performed within or outside conventional laboratory settings.
Samples should be collected via the nasopharyngeal route and tested
within one hour of sample collection.

14 FINANCE NEWS BIOSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2020 | www.biospectrumindia.com

PAG-led consortium Siemens Healthineers
acquires API to invest Rs 1300 Cr
maker Anjan Drug in innovation hub

PAG, a leading Asia focused private equity firm, has To advance the digitalization of healthcare and
announced that along with consortium partners better serve the needs of emerging markets,
CX Partners and Samara Capital, it has reached an Siemens Healthineers has announced plans to
agreement to acquire a controlling stake in Anjan invest Rs 1300 crore over the next five years in an
Drug, a Chennai based manufacturer of active innovation hub in Bengaluru. The innovation hub
pharmaceutical ingredients (API). Anjan is a leading will be housed in a new state-of-the-art campus
supplier of APIs in the central nervous system that combines the existing R&D centre and an
therapy segment to some of the world’s largest ultra-modern medical imaging factory. To expand
pharmaceutical companies, in markets including its digital capabilities, the company plans to add
the US, Canada, Brazil and Europe. The acquisition up to 1800 digital talents in the next ten years.
is part of the PAG-led consortium’s strategy to The investment is part of Siemens Healthineers’
create a best-in-class platform for the development strategy 2025, in which India plays an important
and production of bulk drug ingredients. Terms of role as a growth market for the company. When
the deal were not disclosed. With the Anjan deal, completed in 2025, the first phase of the new
the PAG-led consortium is moving towards the campus will include 70,000 square meters of
creation of a platform to tap into the consolidation office space for the enlarged R&D centre and
opportunities in India’s high-growth API 5,000 square meters of factory space. To create a
manufacturing industry. modern work environment for the employees and
to meet the highest standards in sustainability
and energy efficiency, an international
architectural competition is planned to bring
creativity into the design of the new campus.

NephroPlus buys majority stake in RCDC

Hyderabad based in the Philippines and currently for the network’s existing
NephroPlus has acquired treats 400 dialysis patients across operations and will lend all
a majority stake in Royal its six dialysis clinics located in its India based protocols,
Care Dialysis Centers, Inc Metro Manila and other nearby technologies and operational
(RCDC), a reputed dialysis provinces. Through this deal, expertise to RCDC with
network in the Philippines NephroPlus will be responsible an aim to improve dialysis
with a deep focus in care in the Philippines.
delivering high-quality As part of the company’s
care. Through this strategic overseas expansion strategy,
partnership, NephroPlus has NephroPlus aims to expand
become the first Indian dialysis the services in other provinces
network to expand overseas, and grow this network to 50
marking the company’s transition dialysis centers in the next five
to becoming a Multi-National years to be the dominant dialysis
Corporation (MNC). RCDC network in the Philippines by
Network is a growing network 2025.

BIOSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2020 | www.biospectrumindia.com START UP NEWS 15

CognitiveCare develops AI based healthcare platform

CognitiveCare has announced maternal, infant, and fetal risks in yielded extraordinary results,
the launch of an artificial pregnant women. The Hyderabad both the accuracy of prediction
intelligence (AI) platform called registered and US based startup and the range of risks that
Maternal Infant Health Insights was founded in 2018. Their early can be predicted, prompted
and Cognitive Intelligence work in maternal them to bring a laser focus on
(MIHIC) to detect maternal, and maternal and infant health. After
fetal, and infant health risks infant bootstrapping the company with
early. MIHIC is the only platform health $300,000, they have raised
globally that leverages AI and $900,000 in the seed round
advanced computing capabilities with a pre-money valuation of
to analyse all medical, clinical, $8 million. The funds have been
genetic, radiological, social, deployed to complete the first
and lifestyle determinants version of MIHIC and launch the
to predict early signs of
sales and marketing efforts.

Fitness startup Sascan Meditech
Tread raises $1.1M launches novel cancer
in seed round screening device

Bengaluru-based online fitness startup Tread has Sascan Meditech, incubated at the technology
raised its maiden round of funding of $1.1 million business incubator of Sree Chitra Tirunal
from a clutch of reputable entrepreneurs, super Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology,
angels and pre-seed funds. The notable investors, Thiruvananthapuram has launched OralScan, a
who participated in this round were Better Capital, hand held imaging device for screening, detection
Whiteboard Capital, FirstCheque and Stanford Angels and biopsy guidance of oral cancer. OralScan is a
Make-in-India initiative with seed funding from
among others. the scheme National Initiative for Developing
This funding and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI) of the
round comes Department of Science & Technology (DST).
within just OralScan was designed and developed entirely in
three months of India and supported by Biotechnology Ignition
Tread’s inception Grant (BIG) of Biotechnology Industry Research
in July 2020. Assistance Council (BIRAC), DST and Kerala Start
The startup Up Mission. The startup has recently received
will use this investment from Unicorn India Ventures. The
capital to fast device will be marketed at a price of Rs 5.9 lakh.
track its product This will be a one-time investment for hospitals
development and laboratories without any additional costs of
and accelerate the growth of its platform and overall consumables.
business. The startup envisions to deliver live
streamed group workout sessions through its mobile
app and website. Leading trainers and fitness experts
around the country will use Tread’s platforms for
showcasing and delivering different types of workouts
such as yoga, high-intensity interval training, cardio,
strength & conditioning workouts, and so on. Owned
and operated by Treadfit Technologies, the startup
is creating rich tools for trainers to conduct highly
engaging group workout sessions where users feel
connected to their trainers similar to their offline
experience.

16 START UP NEWS BIOSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2020 | www.biospectrumindia.com

Medtech Inito clears USFDA regulatory
startup EzeRx pathway for fertility monitor
gathers
Rs 1.75 Cr Inito, a Bengaluru-based medical technology startup, has announced
in seed round that its fertility monitor has cleared the regulatory pathway of
the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA). By
Medtech startup EzeRx clearing this, Inito has become the first designed, engineered and
from Kolkata has secured Rs manufactured in India home diagnostic device to achieve this
1.75 crore in a seed funding milestone. Inito’s fertility monitor is a small device that enables
round backed by the Odisha
based KIIT Technology smartphones to perform lab-grade fertility diagnostic
Business Incubator (TBI). tests at home. By measuring two
The startup, now valued at fertility hormones in urine,
Rs 12 crore, will use the new estrogen and luteinizing
funds to boost expansion. hormone (LH), along with
The startup is developing artificial intelligence (AI)
and manufacturing highly based data analytics in the
advanced medical devices app, Inito understands the
and innovative solutions for cycle variations for every
the effective management individual user, giving highly
of curative and preventive accurate results unique to
healthcare. It provides easy every woman’s body. Over
and painless diagnostic the course of more than a
solutions for identifying
primary health parameters at year, Inito’s flagship device has been
an early stage for detecting subjected to a series of clinical studies, manufacturing facility setup
liver and lungs problems. tests as per GMP standards, and company-wide quality management
EzeRx has two main business system, ensuring the reliability and efficacy of the device. Inito’s
verticals where it provides patented flat-lens technology allows dozens of diagnostic tests for
non-invasive prescreening fertility, diabetes, vitamin D, thyroid etc. and more on a single device
and diagnostics devices in connected to a smartphone.
the first and it is building
teledentistry networks in Biddano secures Rs 5 Cr
rural and semi-urban areas pre-series A investment
in the second. It offers four
diagnostic solutions- AJO, Venture Catalysts has recently led a
OzoRx, OralOScope, and Rs 5 crore investment in Biddano,
Aarogya. a tech-enabled B2B healthcare
product distribution platform based
in Pune. The pre-Series A funding hospitals by enabling orders from
round also saw participation from multiple distributors to be easily
other leading early-stage investors consolidated into pharmacy-
such as LetsVenture. Biddano aims specific deliveries. Through
to revolutionise offline pharma its state-of-the-art fulfilment
distribution networks by bridging infrastructure, Biddano also
supply-chain gaps between ensures that pharmacies, chemists,
distributors and chemists through and hospitals, etc. can procure
technology. It uses a plug & medicines in less than three hours
expand model to help distributors of placing an order.
seamlessly manage their demand
and supply while expanding
their geographical reach. The
platform further simplifies order
management for chemists and

BIOSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2020 | www.biospectrumindia.com WORLD NEWS 17

Pakistan Nepal inks deal
emphasizes on breast with Bangladesh for
cancer awareness COVID-19 vaccine

The Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) has signed a Nepal based Anmol Healthcare has inked
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Pink an agreement with Bangladesh based Globe
Pakistan Trust with an aim to spread awareness on Biotech for the supply of two million doses of
breast cancer and its early detection within Pakistan. COVID-19 vaccine. The company is currently
Both organisations will jointly organize awareness working on three different vaccine candidates.
sessions, seminars, conferences and workshops for Since the introduction of disease in Bangladesh,
eradicating breast cancer from the country. Both Globe Biotech has been working to develop
organisations also agreed to work towards the a vaccine for the disease. Scientists at the
achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs) company discovered a special type of mutation
of eradicating poverty, good health and wellbeing, called D614G by analyzing the genome
gender equality, reduced inequalities, and economic sequences that existed internationally at the
growth in general. Pakistan has the highest rate of time. Among the three vaccine candidates, the
breast cancer amongst all Asian countries. According most advanced in terms of development is the
to reported statistics of incidences of breast cancer, LNP-based D614G variant LNP-encapsulated
one in every nine Pakistani women develops breast mRNA candidate. Its pre-clinical trial has
cancer at some stage of her life. An estimated 83,000 already ended and it is currently being included
cases of breast cancer are being annually reported in in the clinical trial phase.
Pakistan and more than 40,000 of those women die
every year, which makes it a leading cause of cancer
death among women in the country.

GCI extends cancer programmes to Bangladesh

Global Cancer Institute videoconference to discuss common practice within US
(GCI), which is focused on challenging cancer cases hospitals, and have been proven
improving survival rates for and ask for advice. The to help boost survival rates for
underserved cancer patients GCI Tumor Boards will patients by enabling physicians
worldwide, have announced be co-hosted by the to resolve challenging cases.
that it has extended its Bangladesh Society for Bangladesh spends 2.8 per cent of
programmes to Bangladesh, Breast Cancer Study its gross domestic product (GDP)
with the launch of (BSBCS), a nonprofit on healthcare, which is the 10th
new monthly organisation lowest in the world, impacting
Tumor Boards that with the availability of preventive
help physicians mission to services. The country also has
and oncologists in eradicate breast limited hospital resources, with
developing countries connect 0.6 hospitals beds and 0.36
directly to US physicians by cancer as a life-threatening physicians per 1,000 people.
disease. Tumor Boards are

18 WORLD NEWS BIOSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2020 | www.biospectrumindia.com

FDA approves World Bank approves $12B
first treatment for COVID-19 vaccine support
for COVID-19
The World Bank’s Board of and effective COVID-19 vaccines.
The US Food and Drug Executive Directors has approved It will also provide financing
Administration (FDA) has an envelope of $12 billion for and technical support so that
approved the antiviral drug developing countries to finance developing countries can prepare
Veklury (remdesivir) for the purchase and distribution of for deploying vaccines at scale, in
use in adult and paediatric COVID-19 vaccines, tests, and coordination with international
patients 12 years of age and treatments for their citizens. The partners. In implementing the
older and weighing at least financing, which aims to support programme, the World Bank
40 kgs (about 88 pounds) for vaccination of up to a billion will support multilateral efforts
the treatment of COVID-19 people, is part of an overall World currently led by WHO and
requiring hospitalisation. Bank Group (WBG) package of up COVAX.
Veklury should only be to $160 billion through June 2021
administered in a hospital to help developing countries fight
or in a healthcare setting the COVID-19 pandemic. It adds
capable of providing acute new financing to the World Bank’s
care comparable to inpatient COVID-19 emergency response
hospital care. Veklury programmes that are already
is the first treatment for reaching 111 countries. This
COVID-19 to receive FDA financing package helps signal to
approval. The FDA granted the research and pharmaceutical
approval and reissued the industry that citizens in developing
revised Emergency Use countries also need access to safe
Authorization (EUA) to
Gilead Sciences Inc. The Sanofi, GSK to support
approval of Veklury was COVAX with 200 M
supported by the agency’s doses of COVID-19 vaccine
analysis of data from three
randomized, controlled Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) have signed a Statement of Intent (SoI)
clinical trials that included with Gavi, the legal administrator of the COVAX facility, a global risk-
patients hospitalized with sharing mechanism for pooled procurement and equitable distribution of
mild-to-severe COVID-19. eventual COVID-19 vaccines. Sanofi and GSK intend to make available 200
million doses of their adjuvanted recombinant protein-based COVID-19
vaccine if approved by regulatory authorities and subject to contract,

to the COVAX Facility. Both
companies intend to contribute
to COVAX’s ambition to ensure
successful COVID-19 vaccines
reach those in need, whoever they
are and wherever they live, once
they obtain appropriate approvals.
The COVAX facility is part of
COVAX, a global collaboration
of governments, global health
organizations, businesses and philanthropic organizations working to
accelerate development, production, and equitable access to COVID-19
vaccines. COVAX is co-led by Gavi, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness
Innovations (CEPI), and World Health Organisation (WHO) and forms
the vaccines pillar of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator.

BIOSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2020 | www.biospectrumindia.com WHO NEWS 19

WHO issues alerts on falsified medical products

The World Health Organisation identity, composition or source. products. The genuine Fluzone
(WHO) has issued an alert for The genuine manufacturer of Quadrivalent has not yet been
medical product related to three Fluzone Quadrivalent - Sanofi legitimately distributed in Mexico
different batches of confirmed Pasteur – has confirmed they by Sanofi Pasteur and is not
falsified Fluzone Quadrivalent did not produce or distribute the expected on the market before
Influenza Vaccine identified November 2020. WHO has
in Mexico and reported to requested increased vigilance
WHO. Fluzone Quadrivalent within the supply chains in
is a quadrivalent inactivated countries and regions likely to
vaccine for immunization be affected by these falsified
against influenza A virus (H1N1 products. Increased vigilance
and H3N2) and B subtypes. should include hospitals, clinics,
The products subject of this health centers, wholesalers,
alert are confirmed falsified distributors, pharmacies and
because they deliberately/ any other suppliers of medical
fraudulently misrepresent their products.

WHO holds infodemic WHO focuses
management training
on digital health
WHO held an infodemic management training programme
where participants came together during eight sessions interventions for youth
that took place over the course of the entire November
month. The training programme received over 650 Youth centred digital health interventions is
applications from 83 countries, and this very competitive a new framework developed by WHO and its
selection process resulted in a cohort of 270 trainees. The partners. It provides guidance on effective
training programme has been driven by a recognition of planning, development and implementation
the harm being caused by false and misleading health of digital solutions with and for young people
information circulating in online spaces, low quality news to address the many health challenges they
outlets and in peer to peer discussions. By the end of the may face
training, participants will have a thorough grounding in as they
infodemic management. This includes an understanding grow into
that public health professionals need to share accurate, adulthood.
engaging, sharable content as well as using techniques The new
to counter misinformation when it starts to cause harm framework
to communities. The course included practical training includes a
on tools for monitoring rumors, fact-checking and list of do’s
verification, as well as learning how to respond effectively and don’ts
and testing interventions to slow down the spread of for engaging
misinformation. young
people in the
process of
digital health design and delivery, based
on consultation with young social media
influencers, health content and intervention
developers, health advocates, educators,
and current or future health professionals.
Aligning with a growing body of WHO digital
health guidance, the new framework builds
on important lessons learned from the first
generation of youth-focused digital health
interventions.

20 ANALYSIS BIOSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2020 | www.biospectrumindia.com

Being cyber safe-
need of the hour

Cyber security is of utmost importance to organisations looking at the criticality of the data
involved. Although a robust system with proactive threat hunting can help fortify an organisation
to cyber threats, an element of uncertainty always hangs around. The recent cyberattack at Dr.
Reddy’s Laboratories simply confirmed this uncertainty.

The pharma industry is currently on the brink vaccine development data. Interestingly, similar
of a major breakthrough with the COVID-19 incidents of cyberattacks have been reported
vaccine but not without challenges. Economies recently by a few Japanese research institutes that
were and are in a state of lockdown, which have were working on COVID-19 vaccine candidates. As
slowed down the R&D and production capacity, a result, the National Center of Incident Readiness
dearth of resources, logistics and increase in and Strategy for Cybersecurity (NISC), a Japanese
cyberattacks. government body that establishes standards for
cybersecurity for government agencies, has urged
Cybersecurity breaches aren’t new and they will companies to raise alert levels against such attempts
only keep rising in the future. Hyderabad based to steal confidential information.
Indian pharma major Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories,
which has clocked a consolidated revenue of Rs “The attack on Dr. Reddy’s took place the week
17,460 crore ($2.316 billion) for the year ending after the pharma giant received a green signal to
March 2020 recently declared that they had a conduct advanced trials for Russian COVID-19
cybersecurity breach due to which they had to shut vaccine Sputnik V in India. Experts are inferring
down their entire operations. this attack was targeted by a Russian hacking group.
Cybercriminals targeting the COVID-19 vaccine
Addressing the issue of developers are on the rise and such incidents are not
the cybersecurity breach, just limited to India but occurring in every part of the
Saumen Chakraborty, world. American biotechnology
President, Chief Financial company Moderna, which is also
Officer and Global Head in a race for COVID-19 vaccine
of IT & Business Process was recently under cyberattack”,
Excellence, Dr. Reddy’s mentions Shomiron
Laboratories, Hyderabad Dasgupta, Founder & Chief
said “The attack took place Executive Officer, DNIF
on October 22 to which the Next Gen SIEM Platform,
company initiated prompt action by isolating the Mumbai.
impacted IT servers. Cybersecurity experts were
engaged, a comprehensive containment, remediation Addressing the vulnerability
effort and investigation was launched to address the
incident. There was no ascertainment if there had According to Crime Museum, the first ever
been any data breaches in the incident pertaining cyberattack was in the year 1988 known as the
to personally identifiable information stored in the Morris worm launched by Robert Tappan Morris,
company’s systems. The company has been in the a graduate student from Cornell University in the
process of recovery and restoration of applications US. The Morris worm infected about 10 per cent of
and data. All critical operations are being enabled in the internet. Advanced Research Projects Agency
a controlled manner.” Network (ARPANET), an experimental computer
network that was the forerunner of the Internet,
Although the reason behind this attack is connected around 60,000 computers out of which
unknown, it is likely that the target is the COVID-19

BIOSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2020 | www.biospectrumindia.com ANALYSIS 21

6,000 were infected by the malware. Compromised like a well-greased and serviced machine a robust
computers belonged to the Pentagon, NASA, Berkley cybersecurity system needs to be in place. This is
and Stanford Universities, MIT among many others. possible by focusing on the proactive assessment of
The systems stayed infected for 72 hours. threats as it will allow organisations to stay one step
ahead of the adversaries. A reactive approach isn’t
Over the years, the cybersecurity market has seen feasible, companies need to be proactive in their
gargantuan growth. As per Grand View Research, the approach to prevent any form of attacks and clip
cybersecurity market was valued at $156.5 billion in them at the bud itself.
2019 and is expected to grow at a compound annual
growth rate (CAGR) of 10.0 per cent from 2020- “Before choosing a vendor, organisations
2027. And the huge growth of the digital healthcare must define their own data and system security
sector is one of the driving factors here. requirements. Given that we are working in a
remote working environment,
The global healthcare sector is witnessing organisations should look for
a massive revolution with the incorporation of cloud-based security solutions,
artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, cloud which can be easily deployed and
services, blockchain, 3D-printing, robotics and scaled without involving much
nanotechnology. All of the newer technologies changes to the infrastructure”,
are prone to some form of cyberattack as they are says Nitin Varma, Managing
connected to the world wide web. Hence, all of these Director, India & SAARC,
technologies require a certain form of security. CrowdStrike, Gurugram.

Amol Jadhav, Industry Installation of cybersecurity
Analyst, Transformational systems isn’t a full proof solution to being cyber
Health Practice, Frost safe. Organisations need to be proactive and alert
& Sullivan, Pune opines at all times when it comes to prevention of data
“India is on the cusp of digital breaches of any kind. Also, it is vital to develop an
health transformation with effective governance structure and information
the increasing digitisation risk management policies as well. In addition,
of laboratory and hospital organisations need to invest in high-quality security
data, growth in wearables and systems.
telehealth platforms as well as
ambitious nation-wide schemes such as Ayushman “The key to safeguarding a healthcare organisation
Bharat. There is, however, a concern, as industry from a potential cyber/data attack is to have tactical
estimates indicate that healthcare remains the second security intelligence and response solutions deployed
most affected sector, with significant threat through across multiple layers. At all times, sensitive patient
security breaches leading to loss of user credentials, data within a hospital or laboratory network should be
medical and financial data. Although organisations thoroughly encrypted and safeguarded against external
have realised the importance of cybersecurity, and internal attacks. Organisations should invest in
most are yet to adopt the appropriate measures to products and services that enable data, endpoint, and
prevent threats and data loss. Regulations such as the network security, while security intelligence, detection,
Personal Data Protection Bill, the Digital Information and response (IDR) remain invaluable. Also, it is
Security, and Healthcare Act (DISHA) provide a vital to develop an effective governance structure and
regulatory framework and drive data security and information risk management policies as well”, adds
privacy requirements across all sectors including Amol Jadhav.
healthcare.”
Cyber crimes have been growing not only in the
Organisations are aware of the looming threats number of attacks over the years but also in the
when it comes to data breaches and its direct impact impacts that these attacks have had on organisations.
on the organisation. Many do not have a proper There is no unerring plan or system that can prevent
cybersecurity strategy and tend to overestimate their this. All systems are vulnerable, the best procedure
resilience, while certain organisations have a strategy is to stay ahead of the curve, by updating systems on
but struggle with implementation. With the evolving a timely basis, patching loopholes in the systems at
nature of malware, network attacks, and shrinking the earliest, limiting access to most valuable data,
time frame for threat detection, it is evident that a developing a cyber security breach plan and most
reactive approach will not suffice. Organisations will importantly conducting employee security awareness
have to upgrade to the ubiquitous predict, prevent, training.
detect, and react action chain.
Prabhat Prakash
For an organisation to function at optimum level [email protected]

22 COVER STORY BIOSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2020 | www.biospectrumindia.com

INDIAN BIOSUPPLIERS

MARKET GROWING AT 9% CROSSES

RS 8600 CRORE
The biosciences revenue of the Indian Mettler Toledo, Becton Dickinson, QIAGEN, GE, ZEISS,
BioSuppliers market touched Rs 8666 crore in Bio-Rad, Hitachi, JEOL, AMETEK, Roche, Sartorius
2019-20 registering a growth of 9 per cent over Eppendorf, Olympus, Spectris, Nikon, Tecan, Rigaku ,
previous year’s figure of Rs 7950 crore in 2018-19. Promega, Anton Paar, HORIBA, Oxford Instruments,
The market registered a growth of 6 per cent in Metrohm, Avantor, Luminex, Dassault Systèmes (BIOVIA),
2018-19 over previous year’s figure of Rs 7500 crore. FOSS, JASCO, Xylem, ITW, Takara Bio, Roper, MTS,
Endress+Hauser, TOSOH, LECO, Hanna Instruments,
The government’s allocation of Rs 1,900 crore ($ 0.27 Zwick Roell, Parker Hannifin, Teledyne and LabWare,
billion) for research in the Union Budget 2019-20 and Rs have a direct or indirect presence in the country.
62,659 crore ($ 8.96 billion) allocated for Ministry of Health
and Family Welfare have helped the biosuppliers to see Some of leading distributors in the country include
some good growth during the year as against the growth Spinco Biotech, Lab India, Imperial Life Sciences,
rate witnessed in 2018-19. Toshvin Analytical, DSS Imagetech, Genetix Biotech Asia,
Labmate Asia, Premas Life Sciences and others.
It may also be noted that in the Union Budget 2017-
18, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) received Rs Besides there are hundreds of small and medium
2,222.11 crore ($ 333.31 million), an increase of 22 per cent, size companies who have been in the business in
to continue implementing the department’s National India catering to the different requirements in public
Biotech Strategy and target increasing the turnover and private sectors comprising of academia, pharma
from the sector to $100 billion by 2025 from $7 billion in and biotech companies, contract/ clinical research
2016. Besides the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) organisations (CROs) etc.
along with other government funded institutions such
as National Biotechnology Board (NBTB) and many other Sales in academia space originated from the vast
autonomous bodies representing the biotechnology number of universities and research institutes as well as
sector, are working together in order to project India as a the continued investments in scientific infrastructure,
global hub for biotech research and business excellence. is the larger market for life sciences segment.
Pharmaceutical and biotech companies occupy the next
The Government of India has taken several initiatives largest market slices, and it so happens that this is also
to improve the biotechnology sector in the country the space that drives much of the market growth for the
as well as offer enough scope for research in this field. life sciences instrumentation industry.
All these developments have supported in growth of
biosuppliers industry in 2019-20. As top drug companies continue to feed their
pipeline with novel new products, they constantly equip
The overall analytical instruments market in India is their R&D and QC laboratories with new instruments, as
over Rs 15000 crore growing at 5 per cent. Basic research, well as provide a substantial installed based for spending
pharma and biotech, contract and clinical research are on aftermarket products and service. These companies
contributing over 50 per cent of the total market in the also routinely outsource their work to CROs, fueling
country. the demand from this segment as well. The reliance
of hospitals and clinical laboratories on life science
There are over 100 leading companies in analytical instruments leads them to capture one-tenth of the
instruments space in the country who are dominating market.
the space supported by hundreds of distributors/
channel partners spread across the country. Only a India still depending on the import of all kinds of
handful of companies are doing very well with sales analytical instruments as it is still unable to develop
revenue of over Rs 250 crore. Most of the biosuppliers are and manufacture these kind of high end precision
having a sales revenue with less than Rs 50 crore. equipment unlike in case of vaccines, biosimilars and
blood products. However Indian companies are very
All the top 50 global analytical instruments much active in supplying lab consumables, kits, reagents,
companies namely Thermo Fisher, Agilent, Danaher, lab equipment, cell culture media and lab chemicals.
Illumina, Merck, Waters, Shimadzu, PerkinElmer, Bruker,

BIOSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2020 | www.biospectrumindia.com COVER STORY 23

Sartorius Stedim India Bangalore based Sartorius Top 15
Pvt Ltd gains Stedim India Pvt Ltd leads BioSupplier
the Bio Suppliers market Companies
No 1 position (Biosciences area) with sales are
revenue of Rs 600 crore in growing
in Bio Suppliers market 2019-20 followed by Mumbai at over
(Biosciences area) based Shimadzu Analytical
(India) Pvt Ltd with Biosciences 20%
sales revenue of Rs 528.14 crore
(second) and Gurugram based
Corning India Pvt Ltd with
sales revenue of Rs 500 crore
(third) respectively.

BioSpectrum Top 20 BioSupplier Companies 2020*

Sr. Company Revenue Revenue % Category Location Region
No. in 2019-20 in 2018-19 growth
(in crore) (in crore)

1 Sartorius Stedim India Pvt Ltd 600 500 20 Principal Bengaluru South

2 Shimadzu Analytical India Pvt Ltd 528.14 467.5 13 Principal Mumbai West

3 Corning India Pvt Ltd 500 Principal Gurugram North

4 West Pharmaceutical Packaging India Pvt Ltd 410 370 11 Principal Hyderabad South

5 Toshvin Analytical Pvt Ltd 240 240 0 Distributor Mumbai West

6 DSS Imagetech Pvt. Ltd. 217 204.59 6 Distributor New Delhi North

7 Premas Life Sciences Pvt Ltd 210 184 14 Distributor New Delhi North

8 Eppendorf India Private Limited 156.6 145 8 Principal Chennai South

9 Genetix Biotech Asia Pvt Ltd 140 109 28 Distributor New Delhi North

10 Saksham Technologies Pvt Ltd 109.5 61.96 77 Distributor Mumbai West

11 Imperial Life Sciences (P) Limited 80 78.35 2 Distributor Gurugram North

12 Esco Biotech Pvt Ltd 59.6 51.89 15 Distributor Mumbai West

13 Medispec India Ltd 54.3 37.5 45 Distributor Mumbai West

14 Promega Biotech India Pvt Ltd 42 29 45 Principal New Delhi North

15 Analytical Technologies Ltd 29.3 28 5 Principal Vadodara West

16 DSS Takara Bio India Pvt Ltd 23.9 22 9 Principal New Delhi North

17 APS Lifetech 10.25 7.8 31 Principal Pune West

18 Biolinx India Pvt. Ltd. 7.50 7.50 0 Distributor Thane West

19 Bio Age Equipments & Services 1.7 1.85 -8 Principal Mohali North

20 Bhat Biotech India Pvt Ltd 0.077 0.59 -87 Principal Bengaluru South

* We have not covered some of the leading BioSupplier Companies as they are unable to participate in the BioSpectrum BioSupplier Industry Survy 2020 due to COVID-19

Top 3 BioSupplier Top 10 BioSupplier Top 20 BioSupplier

companies contribute companies contribute companies contribute

19%to of the total 36%to of the total 39%to of the total
BioSupplier market
BioSupplier market BioSupplier market

24 COVER STORY BIOSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2020 | www.biospectrumindia.com

BioSpectrum Top BioSupplier Companies 2020* (Principal)

Sr. Company Revenue Revenue % Category Location Region
No in 2019-20 in 2018-19 growth
(in crore) (in crore)

1 Sartorius Stedim India Pvt Ltd 600 500 20 Principal Bengaluru South

2 Shimadzu Analytical India Pvt Ltd 528.14 467.5 13 Principal Mumbai West

3 Corning India Pvt Ltd 500 Principal Gurugram North

4 West Pharmaceutical Packaging India Pvt Ltd 410 370 11 Principal Hyderabad South

5 Eppendorf India Private Limited 156.6 145 8 Principal Chennai South

6 Promega Biotech India Pvt Ltd 42 29 45 Principal New Delhi North

7 Analytical Technologies Ltd 29.3 28 5 Principal Vadodara West

8 DSS Takara Bio India Pvt Ltd 23.9 22 9 Principal New Delhi North

9 APS Lifetech 10.25 7.8 31 Principal Pune West

10 Bio Age Equipments & Services 1.7 1.85 -8 Principal Mohali North

11 Bhat Biotech India Pvt Ltd 0.077 0.59 -87 Principal Bengaluru South

* We have not covered some of the leading Principal companies as they are unable to participate in BioSpectrum Bio Suppliers Survey 2020 due to COVID-19

BioSpectrum Top BioSupplier Companies 2020* (Distributors)

Sr. Company Revenue Revenue % Category Location Region
No. in 2019-20 in 2018-19 growth Mumbai West
(in crore) (in crore)

1 Toshvin Analytical Pvt Ltd 240 240 0 Distributor

2 DSS Imagetech Pvt. Ltd. 217 204.59 6 Distributor New Delhi North

3 Premas Life Sciences Pvt Ltd 210 184 14 Distributor New Delhi North

4 Genetix Biotech Asia Pvt Ltd 140 109 28 Distributor New Delhi North

5 Saksham Technologies Pvt Ltd 109.5 61.96 77 Distributor Mumbai West

6 Imperial Life Sciences (P) Limited 80 78.35 2 Distributor Gurugram North

7 Esco Biotech Pvt Ltd 59.6 51.89 15 Distributor Mumbai West

8 Medispec India Ltd 54.3 37.5 45 Distributor Mumbai West

9 Biolinx India Pvt. Ltd. 7.50 7.50 0 Distributor Thane West

* We have not covered some of the leading Distributors as they are unable to participate in BioSpectrum Bio Suppliers Survey 2020 due to COVID-19

BIOSPECTRUM BIOSUPPLIERS

SURVEY AND METHODOLOGY

BioSpectrum India, a leading B2B media platform and Genomics ; Lab Furniture; Automation and Others
in Lifesciences space since 2003 has re- areas catering to companies involved in biosciences/ life
launched its ranking special edition in June 2019 sciences space. We highlighted the companies (both
after gap of two years. This year due to COVID-19 Principal and Distributors) based on their achievements in
pandemic we delayed the survey process from the past financial years. A detailed questionnaire (survey
June, 2020 to October, 2020. In this survey we looked at form) was sent to over 100 companies in this space to
only the Bio Suppliers market with companies specializing capture the needed information for the analysis. And the
in Lab consumables - Reagents & Chemicals, Kits, same was also made available on biospecctrumindia.
Culture Media, Tubes, Pipette; Bioprocess Technology – com. This was done during October – November, 2020
Filteration, Fermentation; Analytical Instrumentation -PCR (Sales revenues of all the companies are in Rs Crore and Rs
machines, Chromatography, Mass Spectrometer , Flow 70= 1USD). Companies shared information with us to the
Cytometer, Spectrophotometer, Centrifuges ; Proteomics extent it was possible by them.

# For all the ranking purposes the revenues considered for the analysis are biosciences/ life sciences sales and service figures. In several cases, where revenue figures were not
available, estimates were arrived in discussion with industry experts. Therefore, revenue wherever mentioned is not necessarily the total sales turnover of the company.

BIOSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2020 | WWW.BIOSPECTRUMINDIA.COM COVER STORY 25

SARTORIUS STEDIM 01
INDIA PVT LTD
BIOSCIENCES
MAINTAINING STRONG GROWTH REVENUE

Sartorius generated a revenue of Rs 600 crore in India during the ₹ 600 crore
FY19-20 in the life sciences/ biosciences space exhibiting a growth
of around 20 per cent from the last fiscal when the company SIBASIS DAS
generated a revenue of Rs 500 crore. India along with China
and South Korea are the key sectors of business for Sartorius Sales Director
within the Asia-Pacific region. A revenue generation of Rs 4043 crore was (BioProcess Solution)
recorded for the APAC region during the FY19-20. India, SAARC

Asia is a key focal area of Sartorius’ regional growth strategy. Asia has a SARTORIUS INDIA HAS
sizable growth potential, thus Sartorius has been heavily investing here in A HIGHLY QUALIFIED
sales infrastructure and plans to increase production capacity. Bengaluru WORKFORCE THAT
is home to one of the company’s centres of excellence in bioprocess IS PROFICIENT IN
engineering and manufacturing. This facility caters to serving customers’ MANAGERIAL AND
requirements across the globe. TECHNICAL SKILLS. THIS
YEAR, WE WILL CONTINUE
On the whole, Germany headquartered Sartorius Group has been LEVERAGING THESE
annually growing by double digits on average and has been regularly SKILLS TO SUPPORT
expanding its portfolio by acquisitions of complementary technologies. For OUR CUSTOMERS IN
the FY19-20, the company clocked in a global revenue of Rs 15,925 crore in OVERCOMING THEIR
the life sciences/ biosciences sector. CHALLENGES AND
CONTRIBUTE POSITIVELY
A major development that took place in 2020 for the company was the TOWARDS ACCELERATING
acquisition of the life sciences business of the American company Danaher THE INDUSTRY’S GROWTH.
Corporation. The company’s broader offering as a result of the acquisition
will support customers even more comprehensively in the development
of biotech medicines and vaccines, as well as in the safe and efficient
production of such pharmaceuticals. Sartorius is thus extending its market
position in bioanalytics as well as in key areas of the manufacture of biotech
medications.

The year 2020 also saw the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII)
recognizing Sartorius India in Bengaluru for its efforts to prevent the spread
of coronavirus. Following an assessment of the working practices under
the conditions of the pandemic crisis, the team in India received the gold
category award.

In addition, Sartorius is supporting the Chinese biopharmaceutical
company CanSinoBIO right from the beginning in its development of the
first vaccine candidate to enter clinical trials against the novel coronavirus
SARS-CoV-2. CanSinoBIO used the Sartorius BIOSTAT STR single-use
bioreactor system for upstream preparation of the recombinant vaccine,
thus ensuring rapid linear amplification of the adenovirus vector (Ad5-
nCoV) and ultimately saving time during development.

The company foresees a profitable growth of 4 billion euro sales
revenue in 2025 by helping customers in biopharma and life science to
develop and manufacture medicines in an accelerated and efficient way
based on the company’s deep understanding of their workflows and
needs.

26 COVER STORY BIOSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2020 | WWW.BIOSPECTRUMINDIA.COM

02 SHIMADZU ANALYTICAL
INDIA PVT LTD
BIOSCIENCES
REVENUE FOCUSING ON SCIENCE

₹ 528.14 crore Shimadzu Analytical India Pvt Ltd (SAIP), a subsidiary of Shimadzu
Asia Pacific Pvt Ltd, Singapore clocked in a revenue figure of
YOSHIYUKI FUJINO Rs 528.14 crore in the life sciences/ biosciences space during
the FY19-20, showing a growth of 12 per cent from the revenue
Managing Director generated during FY18-19 at Rs 468 crore. Although the year
2020 brought in a lot of uncertainties due to the ongoing pandemic, it
DEVELOPMENT OF was remarkable for Shimadzu because 2020 marks 50 years since the
VACCINES & DRUGS TO release of Shimadzu’s first mass spectrometry (MS) device, the LKB-9000.
TACKLE COVID-19 IS AN
URGENT TASK FOR THE To mark this achievement, the company has created the 50th
MANKIND. SUPPORTING anniversary logo to embody two ideas at the core of Shimadzu’s MS
SCIENTISTS WORKING ON business- (i) Looking to the future- The ion traversing the past 50 years
THESE OBJECTIVES HAS and accelerating towards the future symbolises the passion for forward-
BEEN A PRIORITY FOR US. looking innovation; (ii) High reliability- The depiction of an MS spectrum
SHIMADZU TEAMS ACROSS represents the high reliability Shimadzu strives to provide in its products
THE WORLD HAVE RALLIED and solutions.
TOGETHER TO BRING IN
THE BEST ANALYTICAL In response to the current crisis, Shimadzu has initiated a number of
SOLUTIONS THAT HELP projects such as increasing the production of mobile X-Ray systems to
MEET THE EXPLODING accelerate pneumonia diagnoses and delivering various high-technology
DEMAND FROM VARIOUS medical imaging systems to hospitals. The company has also developed
STAKEHOLDERS. SHIMADZU a COVID-19 detection kit based on its unique gene amplification reagent,
STRONGLY BELIEVES THAT Ampdirect technology for PCR analysis, and the pathogen detection
SCIENCE WILL GET US manual from the Japanese National Institute for Infectious Diseases. As
THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC. compared to regular kits, this detection kit eliminates the need for RNA
extraction and purification and halves the overall time required for PCR
detection.

In addition, a Shimadzu group company called Alsachim located in
France with expertise in the R&D of stable isotope labeled compounds
has synthesized the internal standards necessary for the assay of the
drug candidates tested against COVID-19. Shimadzu and Alsachim are
supporting drug development and clinical trials by providing instruments
and internal standards for LC/MS of anti-COVID-19 drug candidates.

Besides contributing to this fight against the pandemic, the company
has also announced the launch of new products in 2020 such as a
multimodal imaging system, TOC analyser for pure water and a triple
quadrupole mass spectrometer with world-class sensitivity and detection
speeds.

Incorporated in 2006, SAIP caters to a large number of industries such
as metals, clinical research, electronics, food and beverages, automative,
petrochemical, pharmaceuticals and life sciences. Shimadzu actively
supports life sciences and biotech research in wide variety of areas such
as proteomics, genomics and metabolomics. The company also provides
analytical instruments that meet the needs of the modern age by
helping to manufacture safe pharmaceuticals in compliance with IQ/OQ
requirements and other applicable regulations. Following the virtues of
Japan headquartered Shimadzu Corporation, SAIP promotes unique and
innovative solutions for biopharmaceuticals.

BIOSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2020 | WWW.BIOSPECTRUMINDIA.COM COVER STORY 27

CORNING TECHNOLOGIES 03
INDIA PVT LTD
BIOSCIENCES
CONTINUING GROWTH & MOMENTUM REVENUE

Corning generated a revenue of Rs 500 crore in India during ₹ 500 crore
the FY19-20 in the life sciences space. India has shown great
potential and continues to be part of the growth plan for SUDHIR PILLAI
Corning Life Sciences outside of the US market. India is one of
the fastest-growing markets in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region. Managing Director
Overall, the company exceeded $1 billion (approx. Rs 7419 crore) in sales
in the life sciences segment in 2019, which accounts for 10 per cent of the CORNING IS SUPPORTING
total revenue of Corning. INDIA’S PREMIER VIRUS
TESTING CENTERS, AND
The year 2020 in particular saw the appointment of Sudhir Pillai for MANY OTHERS, THROUGH
the role of Managing Director for Corning India. Pillai, who most recently THE EXPEDITED SUPPLY
served as Commercial Director, Corning Life Sciences is based in Gurugram OF PRODUCTS TO HELP
and is spearheading the company’s growth and operations in India and ENSURE SMOOTH AND
neighboring countries. TIMELY TESTING OF
SAMPLES FOR COVID-19.
Corning India has also been supporting frontline professionals and AT A GLOBAL LEVEL, WE
communities amidst the COVID-19 pandemic by donating infrared RECENTLY ANNOUNCED
thermometers, pulse oximeters and personal protective equipment (PPE) THAT US DEPARTMENTS
kits to public health centers and media professionals and 1 lakh units of OF DEFENSE, HEALTH &
vitamin C tablets for 5000 policemen in Chakan, Pune. HUMAN SERVICES HAVE
SELECTED CORNING VALOR
Founded in 1851, Corning entered the India market in late 1980s to GLASS PACKAGING TO HELP
produce cathode ray tube (CRT) glass for the TV industry. In 2012, with ACCELERATE DELIVERY OF
its investment of over $100 million, Corning established a state-of-art COVID-19 VACCINES.
optical fibre manufacturing facility in Chakan, Pune. In May 2014, Corning
introduced tough and damage-resistant Gorilla Glass for mobile phone
applications to the India market.

Corning sells life sciences products under these primary brands:
Corning, Falcon, Pyrex and Axygen. The products are marketed globally,
primarily through distributors, to pharmaceutical and biotechnology
companies, contract manufacturing organizations, academic institutions,
hospitals, government entities, and other facilities. Corning manufactures
these products in California, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, North
Carolina, Utah, Virginia, China, France, Mexico and Poland.

The acquisition of the BD (Becton Dickinson) Discovery Labware
business in 2012 has expanded the Corning Life Sciences product portfolio
and enhanced its access to an extensive dealer network to serve customers
in India. Corning is also looking for new business opportunities for other
product lines, including its Advanced-Flow reactors (AFR) and MASTERPIX.

Corning has established a laboratory for Corning Advanced-Flow
reactors in Pune in collaboration with Mumbai based Hikal Ltd. This
lab provides Indian customers with continuous-flow demonstrations,
experimental trials, and technical supports for Corning AFR technology.

28 COVER STORY BIOSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2020 | WWW.BIOSPECTRUMINDIA.COM

04 WEST PHARMACEUTICAL
PACKAGING INDIA PVT LTD
BIOSCIENCES
REVENUE ENHANCING SPEED

₹ 410 crore The India business for US based West Pharmaceutical Services
Inc. generated a revenue figure of Rs 410 crore in the life
ALAGU SUBRAMANIAM sciences/ biosciences space during the FY19-20, showing a
growth of 11 per cent when compared to Rs 370 crore generated
Managing Director in the previous fiscal.
Amidst the pandemic, West Pharma announced the opening of its
THE PHARMACEUTICAL warehousing operations in Chennai in August 2020. The warehouse in
SUPPLY CHAIN IS THE Sriperumbudur will be serving customers within the Indian market and
LYNCHPIN THAT CONNECTS is integral to West’s ongoing efforts to enhance the customer experience
THE LABORATORY through shorter lead time and improved trading process. The warehouse
TO THE END USER. will initially stock a small number of the top stock keeping units (SKUs)
HOWEVER, MAJORITY being ordered by customers from these regions and will expand to offer
OF INVESTMENTS IN THIS more SKUs.
INDUSTRY IS FUNNELED
INTO AREAS OF RESEARCH, The year 2020 also saw the launch of the AccelTRA Ready to Sterilize
DEVELOPMENT AND (RTS)/Ready to Use (RTU) product line in the Indian market, under the
MARKETING, WITH LESS AccelTRA components programme. It has been designed to provide
REGARD GIVEN TO SETTING generic drug manufacturers with components for injectable drug delivery
UP PROFICIENT SUPPLY that meet the challenges of today’s fast-paced market. West has designed
CHAINS. PROACTIVE AccelTRA components around the ideas of quality, speed and simplicity
COMPANIES WITH NEXT- to help address the unique needs of generic drug manufacturers to be
GENERATION SUPPLY able to quickly respond to un-forecasted market demand while meeting
CHAIN MANAGEMENT increasing quality standards. The RTS components were made available in
SYSTEMS CAN MITIGATE India earlier this year, and the RTU gamma sterilized components are now
DOWNTIME TO DELIVER ON available.
CUSTOMER COMMITMENTS.
AccelTRA products are currently stocked in India to deliver speed to
the local generic drug manufacturers. West’s presence in India began
in 2004 with a commercial office in Hyderabad, and has since expanded
with the establishment of a manufacturing plant in Sri City in 2014 and a
Digital Technology Centre (DTC) in Bengaluru in 2019.

Formed in 1923, West creates products that promote the efficiency,
reliability and safety of the world’s pharmaceutical drug supply. West’s
products play an important part in the delivery of healthcare. The
company manufactures 41 billion components annually and the top 50
biologics rely on West and Daikyo components.

Across each market unit—biologics, generics, pharma and contract
manufacturing—customers are seeking out West’s differentiated
packaging and delivery devices. The company is seeing that interest
grow around the world, with faster growth in the Asia Pacific and South
America regions.

BIOSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2020 | WWW.BIOSPECTRUMINDIA.COM COVER STORY 29

TOSHVIN ANALYTICAL 05
PVT LTD
BIOSCIENCES
EMPOWERING SCIENCE SINCE 1948 REVENUE

Toshvin Analytical, one of India’s leading companies in the field of ₹ 240 crore
sales, marketing and servicing of high technology analytical and
laboratory instruments, has registered a flat growth of Rs 240 NAKUL TOSHNIWAL
crore for the year ending March 31, 2020 as a result of the impact
of the Covid-19 pandemic that shut down the Indian economy Managing Director
towards the end of the financial year 2019-20.
WE PRIDE OURSELVES
Since 1948, Toshvin has been at the forefront of bringing the latest, ON BEING A VALUES
most sophisticated range of instruments, accessories and consumables to DRIVEN ORGANIZATION
India from leading manufacturers around the world. Today, it is known not COMMITTED TO
only for its world class range of products but also for its commitment to UNDERSTANDING AND
excellence in customer service and customer support. INCORPORATING OUR
CUSTOMERS CONCERNS
Toshvin has a team of 350 highly trained, dedicated and experienced AND PERSPECTIVES IN
professionals, 14 regional sales and service offices and 10 satellite service ALL OUR ACTIONS AND
locations spread across the nation. The company has over 8,500 customers DECISIONS. CONSIDERING
and an installed base of more than 15,000 operational instruments in THE CURRENT SITUATION
the field supported by the ‘Toshvin Service’ program. Toshvin Service is AND THE IMPACT OF THE
designed to provide the highest level of customer satisfaction through a COVID-19 PANDEMIC, WE
range of solutions developed through years of understanding customer EXPECT SINGLE DIGIT
requirements across various industries. GROWTH DURING THIS
FINANCIAL YEAR WITH THE
In line with its motto “Empowering Science”, Toshvin has partnered EXPECTATION OF A MORE
with leading multinational companies such as Shimadzu, PreeKem, ROBUST RECOVERY IN THE
Memmert, Oxford Instruments, Restek and Specac to bring the latest NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR.
high technology instrumentation, software, accessories and consumables
to support the growth of scientists and science based industries and
institutes across India.

Toshvin has been representing Shimadzu in India since 1970 for Mass
Spectrometry, Chromatography, Spectroscopy, Material Characterization
and Life Science instrumentation and systems, as well as Informatics
solutions. Other products supplied by Toshvin through its various Principals
include microwave digestion systems, robot enhanced preparation stations,
universal ovens, incubators, vacuum ovens, peltier/compressed cooled
incubators, CO2 Incubators, humidity chambers, and other lab appliances,
high resolution benchtop NMR Spectrometers, GC and HPLC columns and
accessories and reference standards, and FTIR Accessories for atomic and
molecular spectroscopy.

30 COVER STORY BIOSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2020 | WWW.BIOSPECTRUMINDIA.COM

06 DSS IMAGETECH
PVT LTD
BIOSCIENCES
REVENUE ADVANCING IMAGING

₹ 217 crore New Delhi based DSS Imagetech generated a revenue figure
of Rs 217 crore during the FY19-20 in the life sciences/
AJAY KANDHARI biosciences space exhibiting a growth of 6 per cent as
compared to the revenue generation of Rs 204.59 crore in the
Managing Director previous fiscal. Although the ongoing pandemic brought in its
own set of challenges, the company’s performance got back on track after
WHILE THE INDUSTRY experiencing several hurdles over the past few years.
STRUGGLED DUE TO The FY19-20 saw the launch of new products such as clonality &
MULTIPLE FACTORS IN NGS assays for hematology from Invivoscribe Inc., USA and digitalMLPA
A CHALLENGING FY20, technology from MRC Holland, Netherlands. DigitalMLPA is a proprietary
THE COVID-19 SITUATION technology wherein up to 1000 DNA sequences can be detected in a
ALMOST PROVED TO BE THE single multiplex PCR-based reaction using Illumina NGS platforms.
PROVERBIAL LAST STRAW. Although the official launch of digitalMLPA was done on November 1,
MOST OF THE RESEARCH 2020, the company started speaking about the technology to existing
WORK, PRIMARY AND MLPA / digitalMLPA users March 2020 onwards.
TERTIARY CARE, CLINICAL The year 2020 was primarily focused on implementation of business
DIAGNOSTICS, PHARMA, automation tools like SAP and CRM for operational excellence, life science
ETC. SUFFERED A MAJOR research products for super resolution microscopy, deep penetration
SETBACK & THE FOCUS into dairy industry for molecular testing, excellent service & application
SHIFTED COMPLETELY support to molecular labs during COVID lockdown period and indigenous
TO SOLUTIONS AROUND products resulting in development and approval of several COVID kits and
COVID-19. HOWEVER, THERE RNA extraction kit.
IS ALSO A SILVER LINING IN One of the biggest principals of DSS, Olympus Medical has directly
ALL THIS AS IT HAS FUELED entered the Indian market for endoscopes and has started selling
SO MUCH INNOVATION & endoscopy solutions to customers themselves. However, due to DSS’s
CREATED A MULTITUDE OF long standing relationship with Olympus, the company has extended
SOLUTIONS. this relationship to represent Olympus Medical in many cases in spite of a
direct presence in India.
Conceptualized in 1938, DSS has offices in more than 13 cities
and a strong team comprising of 150 people. DSS’s product portfolio
encompasses a wide range of products for life sciences research, medical
diagnostics and healthcare. The company is currently maintaining focus
on research imaging, clinical diagnostics, IVF and food testing.
DSS has been granted recognition by the government as a qualified
R&D facility. This R&D unit has developed molecular biology based test
kits for food testing and human diagnostics as well as opto-electronics
based tools for medical and diagnostics use.

BIOSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2020 | WWW.BIOSPECTRUMINDIA.COM COVER STORY 31

PREMAS LIFE SCIENCES 07
PVT LTD
BIOSCIENCES
BUILDING INDIGENOUS SOLUTIONS REVENUE

For the FY19-20, New Delhi based Premas Life Sciences (PLS) ₹ 210 crore
recorded a revenue of Rs 210 crore in the life sciences/ biosciences
space, growing at a rate of 14 per cent when compared to the PRAVEEN GUPTA
FY18-19’s revenue of Rs 184 crore.
With much happening in the current year due to COVID-19, Managing Director
PLS inked a few agreements in 2020. For instance, US based company
Codex has appointed PLS as the exclusive technology and knowledge WE ARE EXPECTING A 30
distributor of Codex’s BioXP 3200 Platform in India. This is the world’s first PER CENT GROWTH ON
fully automated system that can synthesize upto 32 genes, libraries and YEARLY BASIS. WE HAVE
clones in a single overnight run. PLANS OF EXPANSION IN
The company has also signed a sales distribution agreement with a THE DIAGNOSTIC SPACE
South Korean firm Genolution for its Nextractor NX-48S Platform in India. AND WORK TOWARDS
Nextractor NX-48S is a fully automated nucleic acid extraction system that CREATION OF INDIGENOUS
can extract up to 48 samples in one run in 17 minutes only. Through this ASSAYS PANEL. WE ARE
partnership, PLS is empowering Genolution’s revolutionizing technology BRINGING NEW SOLUTIONS
that can significantly ramp up the current efforts in COVID19 testing, FOR OUR CUSTOMERS
powered with Nextractor’s complete automation, high throughput and SUCH AS THE FLUIDIGM’S
reduced manual error. ADVANTA DX SARS-COV-2
The year 2020 also saw US based GenScript Biotech Corporation RT-PCR ASSAY, ILLUMINA’S
announcing a strategic sales distribution agreement, appointing PLS as NEXTSEQ 1000/2000
the exclusive technology and knowledge distributor of cPass SARS CoV-2 SYSTEM, TO NAME A FEW.
neutralization antibody detection kit in India. It is the first-in-the-world
rapid test kit which can measure neutralizing antibodies within an hour.
With plans to expand more into the diagnostic space and work towards
creation of indigenous assays panel, PLS has come a long way from being a
young startup to an established leader with a CAGR of 60 per cent in a very
short span of time. The year 2021 will be adding another feather to its cap
when the company will complete ten years of its inception.
Started in 2011 by a team of highly experienced and proficient
professionals, PLS endeavors to bring to researchers and innovation-
focused organisations cutting edge tools for applications across human
health, agriculture, pharma, environment, forensics, energy and much
more. With the advent of the era of genomics & proteomics, leveraging the
latest technology to gain an edge in mining and interpreting information
has become imperative. With its ensemble range of products, the company
facilitates to answer the vital questions of people’s research using some of
the smartest tools from across the world. Its dynamic portfolio of leading
global technologies boasts of some of the most exciting genomics,
genetics and cell biology applications, manufactured by global giants like
Illumina, Fluidigm, 10X genomics etc.

32 COVER STORY BIOSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2020 | WWW.BIOSPECTRUMINDIA.COM

08 EPPENDORF
INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED
BIOSCIENCES
REVENUE EXPANDING DIGITALLY

₹ 156.6 crore Eppendorf India generated a revenue of Rs 156.6 crore during the
FY19-20 in the life sciences/ biosciences space marking a growth
V of approximately 8 per cent when compared to Rs 145 crore
SANKARANARAYANAN generated in the FY18-19.
With a workforce of 175 employees, the company has offices
Head of Sales in all major cities. Pipette calibration centres are located at Chennai,
Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune and New Delhi. In addition, a mobile pipette
COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS calibration facility is available in Chennai and Bengaluru, which is an
ELEVATED MOLECULAR innovative, first of its kind, service taken to door steps of smaller labs to
DIAGNOSTICS TO ROUTINE provide onsite calibration and certification.
LABORATORIES AND The laboratory and training centre in Chennai provides the flexibility to
HERE EPPENDORF train customers on specific high-tech topics such as micromanipulation
WOULD CONTINUE TO and liquid handling automation. The training centre also offers industrial
OFFER PRODUCT RANGE visit for final year undergraduate students, which gives them an exposure
TO SUPPORT SAMPLE to latest technologies. Besides, students are also trained through the BITP
PREPARATION AND (Biotech Industrial Training Programme), where in six months they are
NUCLEIC ACID EXTRACTION trained to be PCR ready. Moreover, the lab also serves for demonstration
WITH THE CAPABILITY TO purposes as a continuing exhibition of state-of-the-art research tools.
EXTEND UP TO AUTOMATED On the global front, the members of the Supervisory Board at
LIQUID HANDLING the Eppendorf decided to restructure the Management Board of the
SOLUTIONS. WITH MORE company in 2019 by adopting a strategy of dual leadership by appointing
NEW PRODUCTS AND Eva van Pelt and Dr Peter Fruhstorfer as Co-Chief Executive Officers
SOLUTIONS IN THE (CEOs). Following this development, the year 2020 saw Eppendorf
OFFERING WE EXPECT A acquiring the centrifuge business of the Japanese firm Koki Holdings,
REASONABLE GROWTH IN including the premium himac brand. The company also announced the
2021. market entry for Adjustable Spacing Pipettes, which they have redefined
from scratch according to their own premium standards.
The himac brand of centrifuge and the new adjustable spacing
pipettes have now entered in the Indian market. Moving on, Eppendorf
India plans to distribute and provide service support for a larger range
of centrifuges and applications requiring centrifugal force from 1 to 1
million times for the Indian customers. The company plans to continue its
focus on offering the premium quality consumables in segments such as
pharma, biotech, food & beverages, forensic and academic research.
Additionally, Eppendorf India will expand its digitization of laboratory
space to connect equipment and users seamlessly with products such
as VisioNize, eLABInventory, eLABJournal etc. The bioprocess portfolio
will also get new products to address medium to large volume single
use applications and this would expand the offering range for pharma/
biotech working in the pilot to production scale.

BIOSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2020 | WWW.BIOSPECTRUMINDIA.COM COVER STORY 33

GENETIX BIOTECH 09
ASIA PVT LTD
BIOSCIENCES
COVERING GAPS REVENUE
WITH NEW PRODUCTS
₹ 140 crore
New Delhi based Genetix Biotech Asia recorded a revenue figure
of Rs 140 crore in FY19-20 in the life sciences space exhibiting ARUN PRAKASH
a growth of 28 per cent from the last fiscal’s revenue at Rs
109 crore. During FY19-20, the company clocked in revenue Chief Executive Officer
sales of Rs 72 crore for lab consumables such as reagents
and chemicals (Rs 50 Cr), kits (Rs 10 Cr), culture media (Rs 3 Cr), tubes WE PLAN TO STRENGTHEN
(Rs 7 Cr), pipettes and tips (Rs 2 Cr); around Rs 51 crore for bioprocessing THE DIAGNOSTIC VERTICAL
technology including filteration (Rs 28 Cr) and fermentation (Rs 3 Cr); and AND EXPAND THE
approximately Rs 16.5 crore for lab instrumentation comprising of PCR INDUSTRY DIVISION WITH
machines (Rs 15 Cr), centrifuges (Rs 1 Cr) and flow cytometer (Rs 50 lakh). COVERING GAPS WITH
The year 2020 saw the company launching several new products NEW PRODUCTS. THE
COVID-19 RT PCR kit, RNA magnetic extraction kits, viral transport media ANTICIPATED GROWTH OF
(VTM), G-Brand instruments and fermentor. In particular, the company has THE COMPANY IN THE LIFE
launched Primerdesign’s COVID-19 genesig Real-Time PCR assay for the OR BIO SCIENCES SPACE
qualitative detection of nucleic acid from SARS-CoV-2 in oropharyngeal IS APPROXIMATELY 25 PER
swab specimens from patients suspected of COVID-19 by their healthcare CENT.
provider.
With a team of 120 employees, the company has its workforce
distributed in a number of areas such as R&D (5), manufacturing (10), sales
(70), support (20) and operations (15).
Genetix offers products in a wide range of categories such as molecular
biology kits and reagents, biochemical, lab chemicals, media & sera,
plasticwares, glasswares, chromatographic columns and accessories,
fermenters, filterations products, antibodies and ELISA kits, diagnostic kits,
lab equipment, gloves and lab utilities, to name a few. The products offered
by Genetix are used across multiple applications namely DNA & RNA
purification, PCR, cloning, western blotting, plant tissue culture, cell culture,
chromatography, filtration, diagnostics and liquid handling.
Genetix has its own warehousing and logistic facility in New Delhi,
which ensures the company to supply any product to farthest corner
of India in shortest possible time and mostly by one day. The company
stocks and sells more than 16,000 SKUs comprising of perishable and
non-perishable products as well as instruments. The company takes
credit for creating well trained human resource for the industry in the last
25 years and for creating completely new business model in the Biotech
Industry.

34 COVER STORY BIOSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2020 | WWW.BIOSPECTRUMINDIA.COM

10 SAKSHAM TECHNOLOGIES
PVT LTD
BIOSCIENCES
REVENUE FOCUSING ON HIGH VALUE

₹ 109.5 crore Mumbai based Saksham Technologies clocked in a revenue
of Rs 109.5 crore during the FY19-20 in the life sciences/
SAMEER MAHESHWARI biosciences space, registering at a high growth rate of 76
per cent when compared to the revenue generated in the
Chief – Customer Support previous fiscal at Rs 62 crore.
The last fiscal saw the company launching a good number of
THE FUTURE PLAN IS TO new products such as Bausch cGMP aseptic fill and finish processing
FOCUS ON HIGH VALUE equipment, Palamatic materials and powder handling equipment,
EQUIPMENT AND BIG Ocram Clima air handling units, Steelco low temperature vaporized H2O2
PROJECTS. WE ALSO sterilizers, Steelco bedpan washers, Steelco endoscope washers, Kambic
PLAN TO INCREASE freeze dryers, Rumed walk-in chambers, Plas-Labs glove boxes, Hettich
PENETRATION IN ANIMAL centrifuges, and Nabertherm furnaces. Anticipating a growth figure of 30
FACILITIES, CHEMICAL, per cent in the next fiscal, the company is planning to launch many more
PETROCHEMICAL, products in 2021.
AUTOMOBILE AND ALLIED Founded in 1992 with an objective to provide quality instruments
INDUSTRIAL SEGMENTS. with special emphasis on after sales service support, today Saksham
RELENTLESS FOCUS ON Technologies has become a well-recognized name in the trading of
QUALITY, CONTINUOUS superior quality laboratory equipment. Widely used in hospitals, research
IMPROVEMENT AND labs, clinics and healthcare units, the equipment are appreciated
TIMELINESS IS OUR MOTTO. for accurate output, high performance and efficiency, safe and easy
application, durability and low maintenance. With a team of 110
employees, the company has its workforce distributed in a number of
areas such as sales (50), support (40) and operations (20).
Tested on various well defined quality parameters, Saksham’s
cost effective product range includes products such as continuous
flow centrifuges, cell counters, pure steam generators, freeze dryers,
fermenters, ice flakers, autoclaves, bio safety cabinets, deep freezers,
incubators, ultrasonic homogenizers, centrifuges, to name a few. Sourced
from industry leading vendors, all these are precisely designed and
fabricated using optimum grade raw material and advanced machines.
Further, the range undergoes stringent checks and tests to ascertain its
quality, performance and compliance with the set industry standards.
Saksham has five core business divisions – laboratory, analytical,
medical, life sciences and projects to address various laboratories of
analytical chemistry, formulation chemistry, microbiology, biochemistry,
zoology, botany, molecular biology, genetic engineering, tissue culture,
cell culture, blood banks, IVF laboratories, animal facilities etc. located
in research institutes, universities, educational institutes, hospitals,
pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.

BIOSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2020 | WWW.BIOSPECTRUMINDIA.COM COVER STORY 35

IMPERIAL LIFE SCIENCES PVT LTD 11

For the FY19-20, Gurugram based Imperial Life Sciences (ILS) recorded BIOSCIENCES
a revenue figure of Rs 80 crore in the life sciences/ biosciences space REVENUE
exhibiting a minor growth of 2 per cent as against the revenue
generated in the previous fiscal at Rs 78.3 crore. ₹ 80 crore
Since its inception in 1992, ILS has been an exclusive representative
of many leading global players in India. The company provides complete S K GUPTA
solutions in instrumentation, reagents, bioinformatics, consumables
and molecular diagnostics. Besides, it has the entire range of products Founder &
for genomics, molecular diagnostics, cell culture, drug discovery and Chief Executive Officer
bioproduction labs. The company was initiated under the brand name of
Imperial Biomedix with the first division of reagents and consumables. 12
The year 2003 marked the entry of Imperial Biomedix into the
instrumentation portfolio and the introduction of real time PCR in India. BIOSCIENCES
Instrumentation has led on to become the most sought after division by REVENUE
succeeding consumables and reagents revenue figures and achieving
50 per cent of the total revenue of the company in the instrumentation ₹ 59.6 crore
vertical till date.
The company’s objective is to simplify the research process by providing SAMEER
a cornucopia of quality products at cost effective pricing, best of services MAHESHWARI
with the help of ILS representatives in all major cities, prompt technical
support by field application scientists at major locations and quick Chief – Customer Support
deliveries by an all India distributor network.

ESCO BIOTECH PVT LTD

During the FY 19-20, Mumbai based Esco Biotech generated a
revenue of Rs 59.6 crore in the life sciences/ biosciences space
showing a growth of 15 per cent with respect to the revenue
generated during the FY18-19 at Rs 52 crore. The company has
recently launched a radiopharmacy hood into the market.
The company currently has a team strength of 55 distributed in a
number of areas namely sales (25), support (20) and operations (10).
Anticipating a growth of 20 per cent in the current fiscal, Esco Biotech
plans to continuously strengthen its application support for consultative
marketing.
Incepted in 2005, Esco Biotech supplies laboratory equipment to the
life science, biotech and pharmaceutical sector. With focused dedication
and thousands of installations and trusted relationship with leading
companies, research organizations and educational institutes, Esco Biotech
wishes to grow up to become a preferred supplier of world class laboratory
instruments and clean room equipment.
Its products are sold in more than 100 countries including biological
safety cabinets, lab incubators and ovens, CO2 incubators, fume hoods,
ductless fume hoods, laminar flow cabinets, ultra-low temperature freezers,
hospital pharmacy isolators, containment/pharma products, PCR cabinets,
thermal cyclers, animal containment workstations, ART equipment and
powder weighing balance enclosures.

36 COVER STORY BIOSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2020 | WWW.BIOSPECTRUMINDIA.COM

13 MEDISPEC (I) LTD

BIOSCIENCES For Mumbai based Medispec India, the revenue generation during
REVENUE the FY 19-20 was recorded at Rs 54.3 crore in the life sciences/
biosciences space. In comparison to Rs 37.5 crore generated in the
₹ 54.3 crore previous fiscal, the company showed a growth of 45 per cent.
Incorporated in 1995, Medispec deals with marketing and services of
VIPUL CHHATBAR products for the life sciences industry such as microplate instrumentation,
gel documentations systems, freezers, incubators, biosafety cabinets,
Chief Executive Officer imaging, thermal cyclers, liquid handling, liquid base cytology system
and other diagnostic products that help accelerate the pace of scientific
14 discovery and meeting the challenges ranging from complex research to
routine testing and field applications.
BIOSCIENCES Having PAN-India operations, the company works exclusively with
REVENUE brands like BioTek, Nuaire, Syngene, BioSpherix, Gesim, Nickel-Electro,
PolyGen GmbH and Synoptics Group. Medispec has world leaders
₹ 42 crore as partners and has national as well as SAARC coverage with a team
of dedicated personnel providing application and technical support
DR RAJNISH BHARTI in the market segment, which include biotechnology, genomics,
pharmaceuticals, clinical research, pathology, cytology, agriculture and
General Manager many more.

PROMEGA BIOTECH INDIA PVT LTD

New Delhi based Promega Biotech India recorded a revenue
generation of Rs 42 crore during the FY19-20 in the life sciences/
biosciences space, exhibiting a growth of 45 per cent in
comparison to Rs 29 crore generated in the previous fiscal.
The year 2020 saw Promega launching its benchtop capillary
electrophoresis (CE) instrument, the Spectrum Compact CE System,
developed in collaboration with Hitachi High-Tech. The personal CE system
is an integrated DNA analysis instrument that enables life scientists in
laboratories of all sizes to perform Sanger sequencing and fragment
analysis at the bench.
In a major step to counter the coronavirus crisis, Promega India
has been supporting government agencies through its automated
instruments. The company’s components currently support approximately
28 COVID-19 test kits around the world, and Promega provides RNA
extraction reagents for more than 500 clinical labs globally. The company
has recently launched the XpressAmp direct amplification reagents to
provide a fast, RNA extraction‐free method to prepare viral samples for
PCR‐based amplification.
Promega has portfolio of more than 3000 products covering the
fields of genomics, protein analysis and expression, cellular analysis, drug
discovery and genetic identity. Promega Biotech India, a subsidiary of
Promega Corporation, became fully operational in 2014.

BIOSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2020 | WWW.BIOSPECTRUMINDIA.COM COVER STORY 37

ANALYTICAL TECHNOLOGIES LTD 15

Gujarat based Analytical Technologies recorded a revenue BIOSCIENCES
generation of Rs 29.3 crore during the FY19-20 in the life sciences/ REVENUE
biosciences space, exhibiting a growth of approximately 5 per
cent in comparison to Rs 28 crore generated in the previous fiscal. ₹ 29.3 crore
Initiated in 2007, the company generated bulk of its revenue during
the FY19-20 from the sale of products in the filteration, centrifuge, SIVA PRASAD
chromatography and spectrophotometry space. The company also PATNAM
launched new products such as inductively coupled plasma optical
emission spectrometry and mass spectrometry. Chief Executive Officer

With a workforce of 120 employees, Analytical Technologies is planning 16
to increase its manufacturing and research facilities and likewise expecting
a growth of 50 per cent in the coming years. BIOSCIENCES
REVENUE
Analytical Technologies is primarily involved in the supply and
export of analytical, chromatography, spectroscopy, biotechnology, ₹ 23.9 crore
biomedical, clinical diagnostics, material science and general laboratory
Instrumentation. Main products of the company include lab setups on HARKARAN DHINGRA
turnkey basis, chromatography, spectrophotometers, amino acid analysers,
particle size analysers, particle counters, polarimeter, micro plate elisa Director
readers etc.

DSS TAKARA BIO INDIA PVT LTD

New Delhi based DSS Takara Bio India generated a revenue of Rs
23.9 crore during the FY19-20 in the life sciences/ biosciences
space marking a growth of approximately 9 per cent when
compared to Rs 22 crore generated in the FY18-19. The company
further plans to expand in untouched territories by increasing sales in
sectors such as diagnostics and biopharmaceuticals.
With a team of 61 employees, the company has its workforce distributed
in a number of areas such as manufacturing (23), sales (24), support (5) and
operations (9). DSS Takara Bio has a corporate office and manufacturing
facility both located in New Delhi, and has a presence in 9 major cities
namely Delhi, Chandigarh, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Chennai,
Bengaluru and Trivandrum, with sales representatives situated in several
other locations.
A joint venture between DSS Imagetech and Takara Bio Inc., the
company’s brand portfolio includes products from Takara, Clontech and
Cellartis as well as products formerly offered by Takara Bio acquisitions of
Rubicon Genomics and WaferGen Biosystems along with the bioanalysis
range of products from Macherey Nagel and molecular biology reagents
PromoCell. In addition, it is also one of the affiliate that manufactures some
of the cutting edge routine products of Takara Bio in India.

38 COVER STORY BIOSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2020 | WWW.BIOSPECTRUMINDIA.COM

17 APS LIFETECH

BIOSCIENCES Pune based APS Lifetech clocked in a revenue figure of Rs 10.25 crore
REVENUE during the FY19-20 in the life sciences/ biosciences space, growing
at a rate of 32 per cent when compared to the revenue generated
₹ 10.25 crore in the previous fiscal at Rs 7.8 crore. Out of the revenue generated
during the FY19-20, the bulk came in with the sales of kits, reagents and
DR PARITOSH chemicals, pipettes, fermentation, and centrifuges.
SHEKHAR Owing to the pandemic, the company launched detection kits for
COVID-19 this year. Anticipating a CAGR of 25 per cent in the future, the
Director company plans to open a laboratory in the US which will help in generating
forex.
18 Incorporated in 2012, the company currently has a team strength of
21 distributed in a number of areas namely R&D (5), manufacturing (6),
BIOSCIENCES sales (4), support (4) and operations (2). APS has a global presence with
REVENUE established branch offices in the UK, Sudan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Japan
and distributors covering 30+ countries. The supplier is focused on
₹ 7.5 crore manufacturing innovative and affordable kits & reagents for molecular
biology and molecular diagnosis of highest quality. Being equipped with
GIRISH NAIR automated systems for production of high-quality molecular biology
products & clinical reagents, APS boasts of over 2000 satisfied customers.
Director Other areas of expertise include cell biology, immunology, genomics,
forensics, equipment, nanotechnology and robotics.

BIOLINX INDIA PVT LTD

For the FY19-20, Thane based Biolinx India recorded a revenue figure
of Rs 7.5 crore in the life sciences/ biosciences space. The company
did not show any growth in this fiscal when compared to the
revenue generated during FY18-19 which also stood at Rs 7.5 crore.
Known as a major distributor for cell culture support instruments, the
company added two more principals to its existing database- Swedish
firm Bio-Works, which deals with innovative and advanced agarose-based
chromatography resins for purification and separation, and US based
minipcr dealing with DNA tools.
BioLinx India was formed in early 2008 with an idea of linking the
scientific community to novel and cutting edge technology for improvising
their research activities. Backed by its excellent infrastructural facility
and a dedicated group of professionals, the company has succeeded in
establishing itself as a preferred and reliable source of laboratory, medical,
scientific and research equipment.
The company offers a wide range of products such as freezers, cabinets,
incubators, hypoxia chambers, autoclaves, 3D bioprinters, PCRs, thermal
cyclers, centrifuges, washers and many more.
With a team size of 15, spread across sales, support and operations,
Biolinx recently launched a new cytotoxic cabinet. The company is gearing
up to explore newer markets with new products in its pipeline.

BIOSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2020 | WWW.BIOSPECTRUMINDIA.COM COVER STORY 39

BIO AGE EQUIPMENTS & SERVICES 19

Mohali based Bio Age Equipments & Services generated a revenue BIOSCIENCES
figure of Rs 1.7 crore during the FY19-20 in the life sciences/ REVENUE
biosciences space, exhibiting a dip in performance when
compared to the revenue generated in the previous fiscal at Rs ₹ 1.7 crore
1.85 crore. Started in 2004, the company primarily deals with instruments
such as water purification systems, bio fermenters and incubators. During SHASHI KUMAR RANA
the FY19-20, the company obtained maximum revenue in the fermentation
space. Chief Executive Officer
The company currently has a team strength of 12 distributed in a
number of areas namely R&D (1), manufacturing (4), sales (4), support 20
(1) and operations (2). The whole unit is isolated into shifted offices, for
example, fabricating division, quality testing office, managerial office, R&D BIOSCIENCES
office and numerous others. Every one of these offices work in extremely REVENUE
close coordination with each other, in order to accomplish the foreordained
goal of the organization. ₹ 7.7 lakh
Anticipating a growth of 20 per cent in 2021, the company is planning
to add a couple of new products from technologies developed by the PAVAN KUMAR M
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Indian Council of
Agricultural Research (ICAR) related to life sciences. Bio Age also plans to Executive Director
increase the turn over and add more funds and manpower to the R&D
segment.

BHAT BIO-TECH INDIA PVT LTD

Bengaluru based Bhat Bio-Tech generated a revenue figure of
Rs 7.7 lakh during the FY19-20 in the life sciences/ biosciences
space exhibiting a dip in their sales as compared to the previous
fiscal. Owing to the pandemic, the company majorly focused on
developing diagnostic kits such as Bhat Bio-Scan viral transport Medium
(VTM), COVID-19 RT PCR test, Geneasy viral RNA isolation kit, COVID-19 IgM
card test, COVID-19 IgG/IgM antibody rapid card test, COVID-19 antigen rapid
card test, HIV oral test and HIV 4th GEN rapid card test. As a result, very less
revenue was generated on the equipment end. Bhat Bio-Tech manufactures
and markets genomics (DNA, RNA), proteomics and lab based Instruments
along with molecular diagnostic kits, reagents and instruments. Known
for emphasizing on innovation, the company has been at the forefront of
developing solutions during critical times such as chikungunya few years
back, and the current pandemic. The company is currently in the process of
producing antigen, antibody and oral/ saliva antigen test. The oral saliva test
is going to be a unique, easy to use, cost effective and robust rapid antigen
kit which can be used at home. They are also working on fully automated
RNA/DNA isolation and rtPCR instrument, which is also very cost effective,
easy to use, portable and robust. Other products, which will be launched
soon are the gluco-meter and strips and the haemoglobin meter. The
company has an employee strength of 268 and expects to grow at a rate of
30 per cent within the life sciences space in the coming years.

40 NEW PRODUCTS BIOSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2020 | www.biospectrumindia.com

Supporting innovation in 2021

COVID-19 is likely to impact India’s economy across all industries and business formats. Nevertheless, the
biosuppliers sector is gearing up to adopt the new normal and is all set to launch new products in next 12
months in 2021. The upcoming products are spread across a wide range of applications for the life sciences
industry such as cell imaging, sample analysis, nanotechnology, gene sequencing, microbiology research,
microencapsulation and much more.

There are more than 100 companies involved detect SARS-CoV-2 in 15 minutes.
in the biosuppliers sector in India including a Adding on, PerkinElmer has launched of a series of
large number of global players dealing with
analytical instruments, lab consumables, explorer workstations for SARS-CoV-2 testing capable
reagents, kits and chemicals. The principal of preparing and running up to 10,000 COVID-19 tests
companies are dominating the space supported by per day. These modular and scalable workstations
hundreds of distributors and channel partners spread enable laboratories to ramp up SARS-CoV-2 testing
across the country. Besides there are hundreds of small capacity quickly to generate results.
and medium size companies, who have been in the
biosuppliers business in India catering to the different Then there are many companies in this space that
requirements in the public and private sector. are working to supply pharmaceutical companies
with vials and syringes for their vaccine trials. One
Growing at a rate of 6-7 per cent annually, the such example is Mumbai based Piramal Glass that
biosuppliers market is currently one of the many is ramping up the production of moulded vials in
getting affected due to the current crisis. The impact anticipation of the demand for COVID-19 vaccine
of the COVID-19 pandemic has not only brought supply. Similar steps are being taken by the Indian
the global economy to a standstill but set the clock arm of the German glass manufacturing giant Schott
backwards on the developmental progress of several that has announced an immediate investment of
nations. Rs 105 crore into its existing facilities to increase its
vial production by 300 million pieces. Schott Kaisha
Despite all the chaos created by the pandemic, is already supplying vials for COVID-19 vaccines to
the biosuppliers sector is focusing on developing Pune based Serum Institute of India and several other
and delivering the required consumables, reagents, players.
equipment etc. in this fight against COVID-19. In
particular, diagnostic labs are under immense pressure Amidst these efforts, the biosuppliers sector is
to be more efficient when it comes to meeting testing also gearing up to adopt the new normal and is all
demands. As a result, we are seeing many biosuppliers set to launch new products in 2021. The upcoming
innovating and providing a multitude of high-quality products are spread across a wide range of applications
tests materials in high volumes to help clinicians for the life sciences industry such as cell imaging,
identify patients with the virus and support efforts in sample analysis, nanotechnology, gene sequencing,
fighting the disease globally. microbiology research, microencapsulation and much
more. Here is a glimpse of the new launches lined up
For instance, Beckman Coulter has launched its for the Indian market in 2021.
SARS-CoV-2 IgM antibody test for COVID-19 detection
in 33 countries. On the other hand, Thermo Fisher is
investing $40 million in its US facility dedicated to viral
transport media (VTM) production.

Qiagen is another global player that has launched
an innovative QIAseq SARS-CoV-2 primer panel for
next-generation sequencing (NGS) of the novel
coronavirus genome, along with integrated analysis
and interpretation workflows for insights into the
evolution and spread of the virus that causes COVID-19
disease. Alongside, Eurofins Technologies has launched
an RT-PCR multiplex for direct qualitative detection of
the coronavirus pathogen while BD Biosciences has
developed portable, rapid point-of-care antigen tests to

BIOSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2020 | www.biospectrumindia.com NEW PRODUCTS 41

GLACIOS CRYO-TEM CENTRIFUGE 5425 R
THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC EPPENDORF

The new Thermo Scientific Glacios Cryo Eppendorf will launch the
transmission electron microscope (Cryo-TEM) new refrigerated 24-place
delivers a complete and affordable Cryo-EM centrifuge 5425 R, the
solution to a broad range of scientists. It features successor of its popular centrifuge
200 kV XFEG optics, the industry-leading autoloader 5424 R. The new device will come
(cryogenic sample manipulation robot) and the same with a bundle of improvements,
innovative automation for ease of making applications in the field of
use as on the Krios G3i Cryo-TEM. molecular and cell biology easier than
The Glacios Cryo-TEM bundles ever. A variety of 6 different rotors will
all this into a small footprint cover even more applications, including
that simplifies installation. The molecular biology applications such as
designed-in connectivity ensures DNA/RNA or protein separations in 1.5 or 2.0 mL vessels
a robust and contamination- or spin columns, harvesting of bacteria, yeast, and
free pathway throughout the cell cultures in 5 mL tubes, as well as micro-volume
entire workflow, from sample protocols, such as pre/post PCR and qPCR set ups in 0.2
preparation and optimization ml tubes, strips, or divisible 96-well plates.
to image acquisition and data
processing. The Glacios Cryo- SIEVERS ECLIPSE BACTERIAL
TEM can used in a single particle analysis ENDOTOXINS TESTING (BET) PLATFORM
(SPA) workflow for pre-screening of sample quality SUEZ
before transferring to the Krios Cryo-TEM for ultimate-
resolution SPA data acquisition. Furthermore, the Suez will be launching the Sievers Eclipse
Glacios Cryo-TEM can also be configured with a Direct Bacterial Endotoxins Testing (BET) Platform,
Electron Detector and/or Volta Phase Plate to be a a groundbreaking analytical instrument
complete standalone SPA data acquisition solution. that simplifies assay setup while meeting global
regulatory requirements. Through innovative design,
SPECTRUM CE SYSTEM the Eclipse platform significantly
PROMEGA decreases pipetting steps, reduces
operator-to-operator variability,
Promega is planning to launch the Spectrum CE and increases laboratory
System, which is an 8 capillary electrophoresis efficiency. The BET platform
instrument designed to offer more efficient short also empowers users
tandem repeat (STR) analysis and better results, built to be conscious of
with input from analysts throughout the field. The today’s needs to protect
instrument has multi-kit compatibility, including next valuable resources by
generation of PowerPlex drastically reducing
8-dye chemistries. This use of the sensitive
launch is in line with the endotoxin reagent derived from
recent release of the horseshoe crab blood by 90 per cent. Eclipse BET is
company’s benchtop the latest addition to SUEZ’s Sievers line of analytical
capillary electrophoresis instruments, which now offers three out of the
(CE) instrument, the four compendial water tests in the ultrapure water
Spectrum Compact market. Because of its unique design, operators can
CE System, developed perform 21-sample tests with just 27 pipetting steps,
in collaboration with compared to 200 or more steps typical with current
Hitachi High-Tech. The technology, and requires just 1 mL of LAL instead
personal CE system is an integrated DNA analysis of 9.6 mL needed for other solutions. The Eclipse
instrument that enables life scientists in laboratories of platform is so efficient that assays with 21 samples
all sizes to perform Sanger sequencing and fragment can be started in as little as 9 minutes, with sensitivity
analysis at the bench. down to 0.005 EU/mL.

42 NEW PRODUCTS BIOSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2020 | www.biospectrumindia.com

ON-LINE TOC ANALYZERS FOR PURE WATER INSTA NX MAG32 & MAG96
SHIMADZU AUTOMATED NUCLEIC ACID EXTRACTOR
HIMEDIA LABORATORIES
Shimadzu Corporation has launched the on-line
total organic carbon (TOC) analyzers in 2020, with Insta NX Mag32 automated nucleic acid extractor is
plans of making it available in the Indian market a modern bench top magnetic bead based system
very soon. The TOC-1000e, the first analyzer in the eTOC for DNA and RNA purification from a wide range
of samples. With built-in magnetic rods to transfer
Series of on-line TOC analyzers particles through the entire process of purification
designed for pure water starting from binding, mixing and washing to elution, it
applications, is a first for reduces manual intervention to a bare minimum. This
Shimadzu. Miniaturization, hassle-free extraction system helps one to obtain fine
high sensitivity, and a quality ultra-pure DNA and RNA that can be directly
mercury-free design used for further downstream processing. On the
are the basic features of other hand, Insta NX Mag96 automated nucleic acid
the eTOC series. It has a extractor system adopts magnetic bead separation
technology for purification of DNA and RNA from
simple design and parts samples. This instrument is capable of processing
do not need to be replaced samples from 1-96 on a 96 well plate thus enabling
for one year. The periodic high-throughput extraction of nucleic acids. It allows
replacement parts (excimer lamp and pump head) extraction of high quality nucleic acids with minimum
can be removed and attached without tools. Using human intervention in 30-60 minutes.
an optional sampler, the analyzer can be calibrated
or validated (confirmation of manufacturing process INDIVIDUALLY VENTILATED
validity) at the operating site. New prepared standard CAGING (IVC) SYSTEMS
solutions especially for this series are available. SAKSHAM TECHNOLOGIES

ENTRIS II LABORATORY BALANCE In laboratory animal
SARTORIUS husbandry, there is a
huge demand for animals
The new Entris II balance will offer unrivaled that have been kept in
value and is backed by almost 150 years of disease free conditions and
German engineering expertise. The Entris II housed in barrier units such
comes in two product lines- Advanced and Essential. as individually ventilated
Entris II Advanced line gives additional value to cages. This is very important
the Entris II portfolio, with over 38 models offering because when animals are
benefits such as real-time level support, integrated used for scientific research,
protection systems, CalAuditTrail, a graphic touch particularly drug-related research, the animals must
display and 13 built-in application programs. It provide accurate and valid results. The Individually
provides gap-less and automatic documentation of Ventilated Caging (IVC) systems in which the animals
calibration and leveling processes. On the other hand, are kept in ensures they are fully protected by use of
Entris II Essential line is the only balance in its class high efficiency-particulate air (HEPA) filter that defends
offering isoCAL, LED touch technology, and 12 built-in them from all micro-organisms.
applications at a budget price with over 40 models to
choose from.

BIOSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2020 | www.biospectrumindia.com NEW PRODUCTS 43

NEXTSEQ 1000/2000 SYSTEM The inverted microscopy module provides sample
PREMAS LIFE SCIENCES visualization from 1.25x to 60x magnification in
fluorescence, brightfield and color brightfield for a
As the distribution partner, Premas Life Sciences broad range of applications. The upright microscopy
will bring US based Illumina’s NextSeq module with reflected light imaging enables even
1000/2000 System to the Indian market in 2021. more applications such as ELISpot or fast slide
Over the last 20 years, Illumina has led the charge to scanning and region of interest (ROI) detection
improve sequencing workflow. Cytation 7 includes continuous variable
capabilities across bandpass monochromators for versatility and
the entire workflow, performance for general multi-mode plate reader
making it easier to applications. Temperature control to 45°C, optional
use while driving Peltier Cooling Module, gas control and shaking
down costs. This expand the applications for kinetic cell based assays.
tradition continues Cytation 7 is controlled by Gen5 software, which
with the NextSeq combines ease-of-use with powerful processing and
1000 and NextSeq analysis capabilities.
2000. These game
changing platforms MICROENCAPSULATOR
offer breakthrough BIOAGE EQUIPMENTS & SERVICES
system design, chemistry
innovations, compatibility with an expansive list of BioAge Equipments & Services is launching an
library preparation options, and on-board integrated autoclavable microencapsulation system with
informatics for rapid secondary analysis. With fast, multi stage break up two fluid nozzle for clean
accurate results, extensibility from 20 Gb to 300 Gb, production of microcapsules in the market in 2021.
and flexible informatics options, the NextSeq 1000 The microencapsulator is designed for production
and NextSeq 2000 Sequencing Systems are ideal for of wet alginate microcapsules ranging in size from
wideranging applications across oncology, genetic 1500 μm down
disease, reproductive health, agrigenomics, and to around 50 μm.
more. The on-board DRAGEN (Dynamic Read Analysis The products
for GENomics) Bio-IT Platform offers an ultra-rapid, encapsulated
accurate solution for secondary analysis. are bacteriocins,
enzymes,
CYTATION 7 CELL IMAGING probiotics and
MULTI-MODE READER prebiotics. An oil
MEDISPEC free compressed
air/other inert
MediSpec is bringing Cytation 7, which is gas, clean
BioTek’s most comprehensive cell imaging and aseptic
multi-mode reader, which combines environment
automated digital upright and inverted widefield is required for
microscopy with conventional multi-mode housing the
microplate reading in a unique, patented design. encapsulator.
The capacity
of the system
is 3 kg of wet alginate microcapsules per batch.
Microencapsulated ingredients can be used to mask
undesirable flavours, prevent chemical reactions,
improve delivery, control delay, increase stability of
finished product, reduce production losses, increase
quality of finished product and plant capacity
without capital expense, improve production yield,
increase saleable products and profit. A patent for
the product has already been filed.

44 Q&A BIOSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2020 | www.biospectrumindia.com

“Biosuppliers industry needs India-specific
development and marketing strategies”

« and biotech companies, contract/clinical research
organisations (CROs) etc. This market is price
Dr Rajnish Bharti, sensitive but with our unique, innovative and high-
General Manager, quality products, we always make a difference in the
Promega Biotech India, market. We are consistently striving with our quality
New Delhi offerings to increase our market share and we are very
positive about it.
In a major step to counter the coronavirus crisis, one
of the leading players of the biosuppliers industry, What are the upcoming trends for the
Promega Biotech India has been supporting biosuppliers industry in 2021?
government agencies through its automated
instruments across the country. The company has Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the focus of innovation
been providing RNA extraction reagents, approved by within the biotech sector was skewed towards cancer,
the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for a precision drugs and gene therapy, but COVID-19 has
number of leading labs within India. Simultaneously, pointed out the critical importance of viral research.
with 2020 coming to an end, the company is gearing In 2021, one of the continuing trends in biotech will
up to launch new products in 2021. BioSpectrum got be the continued improvement and development of
in touch with Dr Rajnish Bharti, General Manager, drug research. The transformation and evolution of
Promega Biotech India to talk about the scope of the the digital aspect of businesses have been around for
biosuppliers industry, growth drivers and challenges centuries. All of these have set forth better access for
and the new launches. Edited excerpts; consumers and more enhanced marketing strategies
for corporations. With programmes like ‘Make in
What are the main growth drivers and India’ and with growing industry-academia and
challenges of the biosuppliers industry? other research collaborations, the entire biosuppliers
industry needs India-specific development/marketing
The biotech market is the one market, which has strategies. Focusing on innovation for the Indian
grown in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. market and customer, developing a long-term strategy
Investors, governments, and the populations now for growth and adopting innovative business models
are beginning to acknowledge the critical nature of and engaging in more public-private partnerships
biotechnology. This can continue to set the stage is the need of the hour. Mergers and acquisition has
for even more tremendous innovation. The focus become the most common trend in this Industry, and
is now on product development and translational we will see some positive and negative impact of the
research. The presence of high-throughput and novel same in the coming year. In 2021, there will also be an
automated technologies will be one of the key factors increase of digitalization in the life sciences industry
driving the market growth. Although India’s life through online assessment, purchasing goods online
science and healthcare industry is one of the fastest and utilizing digital lab practices. With the country
growing sectors and has changed dramatically in the offering numerous comparative advantages in
last decade, moving from import dependency to self- terms of R&D facilities, knowledge, skills, and cost-
sufficiency, biotechnology products and solutions effectiveness, the biosuppliers industry in India has
often require ethical and regulatory clearance, making immense potential to emerge as a global key player.
the process long, expensive and cumbersome. There
are hundreds of small and medium size companies, What are the major plans in store for 2021 at
who have been in the biosuppliers business in India Promega Biotech India?
catering to the different requirements in public and
private sectors comprising of academia, pharma Promega has recently launched its benchtop 4 capillary
electrophoresis (CE) instrument, the Spectrum
Compact CE System, developed in collaboration with
Hitachi High-Tech. We are also planning to launch
the Spectrum CE System, which is an 8 capillary
electrophoresis instrument. Then we are also launching
ProDye terminator sequencing kit and wastewater
testing products for COVID-19 in 2021.

BIOSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2020 | www.biospectrumindia.com COVID-19 45

Implementing cutting-edge
tools to beat pandemic

While there had been no definite formula for a perfect «
screening strategy for COVID-19 testing, it is the
hope for cutting-edge scientific tools and their fast- Dr M Mani Sankar,
paced effective implementation that rings a bell. Product Manager
& Field Application
Living in the times of a global health crisis is Scientist, Premas Life
certainly daunting. While there had been no Sciences, New Delhi
definite formula for a perfect screening strategy,
the apex health research body, Indian Council of Current available serology tests, such as enzyme-
Medical Research (ICMR), soon found out that rapid linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and lateral flow
antibody testing could not fit the standards with many assay (LFA) rapid tests, represent the second assay
false-positives at its brim. Evidently, the real-time type that detects total binding antibodies (BAbs)
polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing alone had but are unable to differentiate between BAbs and
the power for the most accurate diagnosis, making it Neutralizing Antibodies (NAbs). As NAbs hold a key
the gold-standard confirmatory test for SARS-CoV-2. role in virus clearance and have been considered as
a vital immune product for protection or treatment
The sample collection process for RT-PCR involves against viral diseases, it is highly recommended to
performance of naso-pharyngeal or oropharyngeal screen for NAbs rather than BAbs. For example, the
swabs requiring a skilled technician. However, it novel cPass SARS-CoV-2 Nab detection kit from US
could be a painful and inconvenient procedure to the based Genscript is a rapid, safe and highly sensitive
subject. Collecting swab samples from children and test to detect NAbs from serum or plasma. It is also
the elderly is not just difficult but also risky. Recently, called as a surrogate viral neutralization Test (sVNT)
couple of neo-natal deaths due to inappropriate as it highly correlates with the conventional VNT.
sample collection have come in notice. To overcome
such limitations, saliva was found to be an excellent Though RT-PCR is the gold standard for current
alternative to testing for COVID-19 infection. testing norms, it is important to note that a recent
study from the Institute of Genomics and Integrative
Soon after, many companies in the biosuppliers Biology (IGIB) in New Delhi, has pointed towards the
sector started to address this option. For instance, utility of Illumina’s next-generation sequencing (NGS)
US based Fluidigm Corporation launched Advanta technology for diagnosis. They have demonstrated an
Dx SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR kit to facilitate SARS-CoV-2 8-10 per cent increase in diagnostic yield while using
detection from saliva samples. It eases both the sample NGS in comparison to RT-PCR. Many inconclusive
collection process and eliminates the need for viral samples could be attributed with definitive results
RNA extraction process. The kit is compatible with using NGS. Illumina’s COVIDseq in conjunction with
Fluidigm’s high-throughput Biomark HD platform with Novaseq was used for these studies. It helps to sequence
an ability to perform more than 2000-3000 samples the nucleotides that make up SARS-CoV-2 virus.
per day. With schools, colleges, corporate offices
opening up, saliva-based testing using Biomark HD The researchers at IGIB further demonstrated the
could add great value for rapid, non-invasive, safer and utility of Illumina’s Novaseq platform and COVIDseq
high-throughput testing. Several universities in the US test to track lineage and transmission of the virus in
are using Fluidigm’s saliva-based kit and Biomark HD Kerala. They also identified the first few cases of re-
for routinely screening or testing their students. infection in India using this technology. Illumina’s
NGS technology has also been deployed in Australia
However, RT-PCR-based case detection strategies for tracking every positive COVID-19 case. As the
may not provide a reasonable approximation of the pandemic continues to casts its gloom, it is the hope
number of SARS-CoV-2 infections in a population for cutting-edge scientific tools and their fast-paced
since they might miss out many asymptomatic and pre- effective implementation that rings a bell.
symptomatic infections. Seroprevalence surveys can
provide an estimate of the proportion of the population
that has developed antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, an
indication of recent SARS-CoV-2 infection.

46 PEOPLE NEWS BIOSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2020 | www.biospectrumindia.com

UICC Geneva Cadila Pharma ropes in
elects Dr Anil K VK Singh as COO for API biz
D’Cruz as new
president Pharma industry veteran VK Singh has joined Ahmedabad based
Cadila Pharmaceuticals as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of
Dr Anil D’Cruz, Director, its chemical strategic business unit, which mainly focuses on active
pharma ingredients (APIs) manufactured in India. Singh will be based
Oncology Services, Apollo out of Ahmedabad. He is a chemical engineer
from IIT-Kanpur, and an MBA from the
Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, New
Delhi. He has experience of over 20 years in
the pharma industry, and the last 10 years
in leading and transforming organisations.
He was last associated as Chief Business
Officer with Strides Pharma Science. Prior to
that, he was associated with leading pharma
companies such as Emcure Pharmaceuticals,
RPG Life Sciences, Ethypharm India, and
Ranbaxy in various roles. Singh performed
a general management function leading mid-sized pharma companies
over the last decade, and has a wide experience, spanning across
formulations, drug delivery, APIs, business development, corporate
strategy and mergers and acquisitions. His strength is leading
international business with a focus on regulated markets.

Cancer Centre, Mumbai, is the

first Indian Oncologist directly Dr. Reddy’s appoints
Parag Agarwal as CFO
elected as President at the

Union for International Cancer

Control (UICC) Geneva. Dr

D’Cruz has been on the board of

directors of the UICC 2012-2018 his organisations. With over 10
years of working experience in
and was elected as President- several countries outside India,
he brings deep global experience
Elect in October 2018. As a in leading business & financial
strategy, transforming finance
well-recognized global leader, function, as well as in M&A-
strategy & execution. He has
clinician, researcher and teacher expertise in driving performance
management of investments,
in head and neck oncology, Dr financial result delivery and
driving operating margin
D’Cruz brings with him over 30 improvement through revenue
& cost optimisation across the
years of experience in the field value chain. Agarwal is a qualified
Chartered Accountant and
of cancer care. He succeeds Company Secretary. He joins Dr.
Reddy’s from Reckitt Benckiser
Princess Dina Mired of Jordan PLC, where he was CFO-Health,
based in London. Prior to his
to the post and is the first nine years stint at Reckitt, he was
associated with organisations
Indian oncologist to lead this such as Unilever, GSK Consumer
Healthcare & Genpact.
global body. Dr D’cruz has held

leadership positions and is on the

board of numerous professional Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories has
announced that Parag Agarwal
organizations, universities, has joined the company as
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
research organisations and cancer effective December 1, 2020.
In a career spanning over
institutions across the country 33 years, Agarwal has held
several leadership positions,
and abroad. His landmark contributing significantly to
the financial performance of
contribution on the management

was neck nodes in oral cancer

was awarded the prestigious

plenary at the American Society

of Clinical Oncology in 2015.

BIOSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2020 | www.biospectrumindia.com PEOPLE NEWS 47

RGCB names Prof. Chandrabhas Vaibhav
Narayana as director Karandikar
steps up as
Prof. Chandrabhas Narayana An accomplished scientist CFO at Sanofi
has been appointed as the and interdisciplinary research
Director of Rajiv Gandhi Centre leader, Prof. Narayana succeeds Vaibhav Karandikar was
for Biotechnology (RGCB) Prof. M. Radhakishna Pillai, appointed as the Chief
in Thiruvananthapuram, an who retired as RGCB Director Financial Officer for Sanofi
autonomous institute under the in August after a stint of over 15 India Limited (SIL) in October
Department of Biotechnology years. 2020. Vaibhav joined Sanofi
(DBT). The appointment is in 2007. He is a Chartered
for a period of five years. Prof. Accountant, Cost Accountant
Narayana, who specialises & Company Secretary and has
in Raman Spectroscopy, has held growing responsibilities
served as Professor of Chemistry in business controlling,
and Physics of Materials Unit accounting and in various
and Dean, Fellowships and M&A/transformation projects,
Extension Programmes, at the both for commercial operations
Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for and manufacturing facilities.
Advanced Scientific Research In his new role, Vaibhav will
(JNCASR), Bengaluru. He holds be responsible for all statutory
three international patents, requirements of the company
a couple of which are on the and will support local strategic
verge of commercialisation. and transformational projects.
He will also be an integral
J B Chemicals & Pharma brings member of the Sanofi India
Nikhil Chopra on board Country Council. Vaibhav is
the first Indian CFO for SIL.
Former Cipla executive, Nikhil Chopra, is now leading J B Chemicals Prior to joining Sanofi, he has
worked with Sandoz India,
& Pharmaceuticals, as its’s board has appointed him, as whole-time Tata Power & Hindustan Ciba
Geigy. He has contributed
Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company. In his over the years in both
finance strategy and precise
past stint, he was associated operational execution to ensure
that the business needs are
with Cipla for over 24 years, met in a dynamic business
environment.
of which the last five years he

was India- CEO. For over two

decades he has spearheaded

breakthrough ideas focused

on creating greater access

to high quality treatment

and medicines and gained

significant competitive

advantage over peers,

especially in categories such as

respiratory, urology, hospital

business, HIV and pediatric

care. Chopra has been at the

forefront of innovation and

driven mass scale digital

transformation projects for field-force and healthcare practitioner

(HCP) engagements. His endeavors have led to implementation of the

largest direct to consumer and patient support programme initiatives

in the pharma industry.

48 R&D NEWS BIOSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2020 | www.biospectrumindia.com

IISc designs bandage IIT-Kgp develops
economical device
to kill cancer cells for COVID-19 testing

Researchers from the Indian Institute of Covirap, the diagnostic machine developed by the
Science (IISc), Bengaluru have developed Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur (IIT-Kgp)
a non-invasive bandage made with researchers, has been successfully validated for its efficacy
magnetic nanofibres to treat skin cancer in COVID-19 detection by the Indian Council of Medical
by administering heat to the tumour Research (ICMR). Various commercial units have already
cells. The bandage has a unique blend of approached the institute for technology licensing to
magnetic nanoparticles fabricated using a enable a rapid reach of this innovation to the common
people. This new testing method implements a highly
method called reliable and accurate molecular diagnostic procedure that
electrospinning. can be conducted in an ultra-low-cost portable device unit
It comprises developed by the IIT- Kgp research team. The test results
nanoparticles are rendered via a custom-made mobile application for
made from an dissemination without requiring manual interpretation.
oxide of iron, This innovation has made high quality and accurate
Fe3O4, and a COVID-19 testing affordable for the common people with
biodegradable a testing cost of around Rs 500, which can further be
polymer called reduced through government intervention. As informed
polycaprolactone by IIT-Kgp, this machine can be developed at a cost of less
(PCL) pasted on than Rs 10,000 with minimal infrastructural requirement
a surgical tape. making the technology affordable to common people.
The magnetic
material generates heat when it is subjected
to a high-frequency oscillating magnetic
field. Though this novel treatment has been
shown to be effective against skin cancer in
lab experiments, it is still at a nascent stage
of development as a clinical therapy. Further
studies are required to test the efficacy of this
novel treatment method on a larger scale in
rabbits, dogs, and monkeys before employing
it for pre-clinical and clinical applications.

CSIR reveals 32% unique genetic variants in India

Results from the extensive nucleotide variants in the India
computation analysis of the 1029 genome dataset. Comparisons with
sequenced genomes from India the global genome datasets revealed
carried out by the constituent that 18,016,257 (32.23 per cent)
labs of the Council of Scientific variants were unique and found
and Industrial Research (CSIR) only in the samples sequenced
- Institute of Genomics and from India. This emphasizes
Integrative Biology (IGIB), Delhi and the need for an India centric
Centre for Cellular and Molecular population genomic initiative.
Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad were The current IndiGenomes data
published in the scientific journal, resource provides a compendium
Nucleic Acid Research, recently. of genetic variants representing the
The allele frequencies of the genetic contemporary Indian population
variants generated in the study with an objective to classify variants
are available on the IndiGenomes involved in mendelian disorders
database. The analysis led to the and improve precision medicine
identification of 55,898,122 single outcomes.

BIOSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2020 | www.biospectrumindia.com R&D NEWS 49

IISER-Pune focuses on checking asymptomatic COVID-19 cases

Researchers from the Indian The instrument offers many
Institute of Science Education advantages over the existing
and Research IISER) in Pune, clinical methods for assessing
along with the BJ Medical olfaction. It delivers odours in a
College in Ahmedabad have controlled fashion, assesses the
developed a fast and sensitive olfactory health status in less
device that can help detect than 20 minutes of testing, and
asymptomatic COVID-19 can innocuously quantify deficits
patients by testing their sense of under infective conditions as it
smell. By accurately measuring has built-in safety precautions
the ability to smell, one could to prevent cross-contamination.
detect an asymptomatic The methods and parameters
COVID-19 infection caused by established by this study can
SARS-CoV-2 virus. The team potentially be translated into a
has designed and custom-built sensitive, fast and economical
an olfactory-action meter that olfaction-based screening assay
can determine with precision that can be self-administered by
how well one can smell. large populations.

NIOT makes rapid detection IIT-Mandi links
kit for MDR bacteria opioid addiction drug
with type 2 diabetes
A group of scientists at the National Institute of Ocean
Technology (NIOT), Port Blair has developed a highly Researchers from the Indian Institute of
effective kit to detect the multi drug resistant (MDR) strains Technology (IIT) Mandi have unravelled
of the gram positive bacteria Enterococcus faecalis. This tool the mechanism by which insulin overload
would enable rapid detection of the virulence of the pathogen in the body causes insulin resistance
in a single step, which would be an important tool not only in that is associated with diabetes.
the healthcare system but also in anti-bioterrorism measures They have found that the drug that is
and environmental monitoring applications. The scientists used in treating opioid addiction can
have stated that the new multiplex polymerase chain potentially reverse this phenomenon. The
reaction (mPCR) based specific bacterial gene diagnostic researchers identified a critical protein
tool can detect bacteria faster than traditional method. The molecule SIRT1, which is repressed in
new technology developed by NIOT would be very useful hyperinsulinemia. They discovered that
in many of the Southeast Asian countries where septic a decrease in SIRT1 activates another
tanks are widely used which are active sources of pathogen protein called NFkB, which instigates
dispersal to the groundwater as doubtful contaminated inflammation, thus providing the link
samples can be tested for contamination rapidly and thus between hyperinsulinemia and systemic
bring out policies and to build legal framework to stop the inflammation. The team has also
pathogen dispersal effectively. discovered a solution to this problem.
The researchers found that low-dose
naltrexone (LDN), a drug commonly
administered for opiate addiction,
can activate SIRT1, thereby reducing
inflammation and increasing insulin
sensitivity of cells. The researchers are
of the view that naltrexone at low doses
could potentially restore some of the
diabetes-associated events in cellular and
animal models.

50 ACADEMIC NEWS BIOSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2020 | www.biospectrumindia.com

IIHMR, John NIPER introduces MTech
Hopkins programme in medical devices
initiate vaccine
economics The National Institutes of with an access to career options,
course Pharmaceutical Education such as research & development
and Research (NIPERs) in personnel in healthcare,
With COVID-19 dramatically Guwahati, Hyderabad and pharmaceuticals, biotechnology
altering vaccine decision Mohali have introduced a new and medical device industry and
making globally, the world M Tech programme in medical initiating startup companies
is faced with new challenges devices. The course is designed to in various sectors of medical
on how to maintain routine contain topics related to biology, devices.
vaccine coverage and plan the chemistry, mathematics, clinical
rapid deployment of a coming science and engineering, which
COVID-19 vaccine. To address are essential for developing
questions associated with medical devices. The course will
these emerging challenges, also contain one-year project
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg work aimed at developing
School of Public Health, US prototypes of various medical
and the Indian Institute of devices. The batch size of the
Health Management and course will be 10 students per
Research (IIHMR) University year in each offering NIPERs.
in Jaipur have designed The programme offers students
two new online courses for
vaccine policy makers and AIIA signs MoU with Amity
programme managers. The University for ayurveda research
online programmes are aimed
at educating policymakers The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) in New Delhi under the
and programme managers on Ministry of AYUSH has signed a Memorandum of Understanding
using the tools of economics (MoU) with the Amity University. The MoU focuses on promoting
to optimise vaccine coverage research in ayurvedic sciences. The MoU by AIIA is with the Amity
during the challenges of Institute of Indian System of Medicine, which was established in 2018
COVID-19. The online by the Amity University. The MoU envisages collaboration in quality
programmes have been and standardization of ayurvedic drugs as well as in PhD programmes
receiving an overwhelming in natural product
response, attracting 400 chemistry and
applications out of which 230 pharmacy. Studies
participants from the field of in pharmaceutics,
immunisation and vaccine pharmacodynamics
delivery have been shortlisted and pharmacokinetics
to attend the programme. have also been
The participants are from identified as potential
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, areas of collaboration.
Bhutan, India, Myanmar, The MoU will also
Nepal, and Somalia. lead to joint projects
and publications. This partnership is expected to result in some cutting
edge research in ayurveda as well as in the promotion and spread of
knowledge associated with ayurvedic sciences across the globe. It will
integrate traditional knowledge with modern sciences and add new
dimensions to research in ayurveda. The two Institutions will work
together for evolving knowledge and procedures, which will be of use to
the national healthcare system and ultimately to health solutions that
will be of relevance at a population scale.