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4 BIO CONTENT BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2019 | www.biospectrumindia.com

33 COVERSTORY

WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS:
TOUGH GETS GOING

Against all odds, many women have started out COVER
their own ventures in the field of life sciences DESIGN BY:
and related healthcare sectors. BioSpectrum has DOMINIX STRATEGIC
compiled profiles of 26 such achievers who have DESIGN PVT. LTD.
successfully developed startups in the above
mentioned fields in the past 6 years.

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2019 | www.biospectrumindia.com BIO CONTENT 5

21 INNOVATE KARNATAKA TOPVIDEO

Karnataka – Prof K
Creating VijayRaghavan,
World-Class PSA to the
Bio-Ecosystem Government,
shares his thoughts
BUDGET on the challenges
that can arise
13 before conducting
genomics studies
Interim Budget 2019-20 in India.

Centre announces Scan the QR Code »
setting up
National Artificial Kayapan Satya
Intelligence Portal Dharshan, Founder
and Chairman,
Q&A Dermozone
reveals his plans
19 of launching novel
skincare products
“We have a message of in India.
taking India from diabetes
capital to diabetes care capital” Scan the QR Code »
Dr Gaurav Laroia,
Dr Venkataraman
General Manager, Roche Diabetes Care India Srithanan, Director,
NanoDx Healthcare
REGULARS talks about the
bacterial infection
BioEdit ........................................................................06 detection device
BioMail .......................................................................08 his company has
Policy and Regulatory News.....................................09 developed recently.
Start-up News............................................................11
Finance News.............................................................12
Company News..........................................................18
Supplier News............................................................43
Science News............................................................46
Academic News.........................................................48
People News..............................................................49
BioEvent .....................................................................50

Scan the QR Code »

6 BIO EDIT BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2019 | www.biospectrumindia.com

At the Crossroad

What was being discussed in media for the the government’s efforts to ensure accessible
last few months on the basis of a leaked and affordable healthcare. Still, NPPA’s wings
document, has happened ultimately. were first partially clipped by the Department of
The powers of the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Pharmaceutical’s (DoP) order in April restricting
Authority (NPPA), an authority responsible for its powers to fix prices of only medicines and
regulating the drug prices, have been clipped by devices notified in National List of Essential
the government and transferred to NITI Aayog. Medicines (NLEM). And now in January 2019,
A high-level standing committee to be chaired by the government has decided to set up a committee
the member (health) of the NITI Aayog will be set under NITI Aayog which will take up the pricing
up to recommend the prices of drugs and medical matters of drugs and devices either suo moto or on
devices to NPPA. The committee comprises of a the request from the government.
Chief Economic Advisor and two officials from
the Health Ministry and one from the Commerce Around the same time, the DoP announced
& Industry Ministry. It will also invite a “subject that new patented drugs and the ones used to
matter expert” to its meetings. treat rare diseases would be exempted from
price control for five years from the day they are
The move was apparently in the offing since marketed in the country. However, a high level
April last year when NITI Aayog proposed government panel report in March 2018 made
formation of such a committee, which was various recommendations, including ceiling
later incorporated in the draft of the National prices of life-saving medicines after analysing
Pharmaceuticals Policy. When NPPA came to purchasing power parity (PPP) of various
know of such a proposal it had criticised and countries and granting compulsory license to
opposed the move that would dilute its powers. Indian pharma company to produce drug without
NPPA had tweeted that its powers should not be consent of patent holding multinational. These
diluted and medicines should not be treated as recommendations are reportedly under the
commodities. government’s consideration.

NPPA assumed its powers from Para 19 of All these developments are giving conflicting
the Drugs Price Control Order (DCO) 2013 to signals about what exactly is the government’s
regulate the prices of all medicines and medical thought process over drug prices. Clipping NPPA’s
devices under extraordinary circumstances in the powers and making NITI Aayog committee more
public interest. It used the powers to cap prices of powerful in price matters is a welcome sign from
medicines, stents and knee replacements providing the industry perspective. As it is, medicine prices
relief to common people. A few months back the constitute lesser part of the medical expenses.
government told the Lok Sabha in a written reply Though the drug prices in India are lowest in
that prices of 851 essential drug formulations were the world, the out of pocket expenditure of
cut, mostly in the 5-40 per cent range, in the past 2 Indians is as high as 65.6 per cent and hence
years. Largely people welcomed the NPPA’s move. controlling price may not have desired effect.
However, naturally, it invited the industry’s wrath. So, in that sense the government’s move to clip
The actions were dubbed as NPPA’s anti-pharma- NPPA powers appears to be in the right direction.
MNC agenda. The companies’ argument was that However, it appears that the government is at a
controlling the prices would make manufacturing crossroad in taking an amicable decision for the
them economically unviable. drug price control issue.

But in a radio address, the Prime Minister Milind Kokje
had quoted the example of capping of prices of Chief Editor
heart stents and knee replacements to describe
[email protected]



8 BIO MAIL BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2019 | www.biospectrumindia.com

17th Vol 17; Issue 2; February 2019

ANNIVERSARY Brilliant minds

ISSUE It is so amazing that our country is
encountering a number of brilliant
minds in the sphere of artificial Cancer burden
intelligence industry. In the recent
times, a large number of artificial Breast cancer is currently the
intelligence and machine learning most common cancer among
relying startups have emerged Indian women, both in
and have flourished and India is terms of incidence as well as
already among the top countries in mortality. Please keep doing
the field of AI. more articles around this.
- Rashmi Khanna, Mumbai
- Nisha Sharma, New Delhi
HIV Care
Disrupting Healthcare
Please provide more
Looking forward to more information about the various
information on the upcoming initiatives being taken by all
BioAsia 2019 event. BioAsia 2019 state governments towards
is themed on Life Sciences 4.0 the welfare of HIV patients.
where the global industry experts
will share their thoughts on - Karan Shukla, Nagpur
global trends and ramifications
for all industry stakeholders.

- Taniya Agnes, Bengaluru

Vol 17; Issue 3; March 2019 MM Activ Sci-Tech Communications

Publisher & Managing Editor: South Region New Delhi INTERNATIONAL
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BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2019 | www.biospectrumindia.com POLICY AND REGULATORY NEWS 9

Odisha to operate digital Inter-Ministerial
dispensaries in 23 districts
Committee to incentivise
Odisha Government has inked a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with the Glocal Health Care research quality
Systems for operation and management of 102 digital
dispensaries in remote areas of 23 districts in the state. The Central government has announced
The MoU was signed in the presence of Chief Minister that the fellowship of PhD students and
Naveen Patnaik at the state secretariat recently. Each other research personnel enrolled in any
digital dispensary has provision for an MBBS doctor area of science and technology, including
consultation through video conference facility. In Physical and Chemical Sciences, Engineering,
addition, a pharmacist, nurse, laboratory assistant Mathematical Sciences, Agricultural
and support staff are in place in each dispensary. Sciences, Life Sciences, Pharmacy etc. has
The dispensaries are equipped with minimum set of been enhanced with effect from January 1,
investigations such as routine testing of urine, blood, 2019. The hike in fellowship will directly
haemoglobin, blood sugar, malaria, dengue, BP, ECG, benefit over 60,000 Research Fellows and
sP02, pregnancy detection etc. and a pharmacy facility also provide a template to the states to
with dispensing of generic medicine. All these services consider increase in their fellowship rates.
are provided free of cost to the people, under the Biju Fellowship of the Junior Research Fellows
Swasthya Kalyan Yojana. in the first two years of PhD programme is
increased from the current rate of Rs 25,000
to Rs 31,000 per month. Similarly, in the
remaining tenure of PhD, Senior Research
Fellow will get Rs 35,000 per month instead
of the present Rs 28,000 per month.
Further, there is substantial 30-35 per cent
enhancement in the financial rewards for
the scientists involved in the R&D projects
as Research Associates. The top bracket of
Research Associateship is fixed at Rs 54,000.

MoHFW announces no shortage of polio vaccines

According to the latest batch and Polio NID will be held in the country. It is to be noted
announcement by the Ministry soon. The next round of National that India has eliminated
of Health and Family Welfare Immunisation Day (NID) is going polio already and as per global
(MoHFW), there is no shortage to be held on March 10. Regarding guidelines, introduced IPV in
of Oral Polio Vaccines (OPV) Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV), its Universal Immunization
and Inactivated Polio Vaccine there is neither shortage of IPV Programme to safeguard the
(IPV) in the country. As far as nor any shortage of funds for polio free status, as there are
polio national immunization its procurement for Universal few countries where polio
days (NID) is concerned, the Immunization Programme (UIP) virus is still circulating and
required quantity of bivalent Polio is yet to be eliminated. All
Oral Polio Vaccine (bOPV) Global Alliance for Vaccines
has already been secured for the and Immunisation (GAVI) eligible
programme. However, to ensure countries are extended support
availability of safe and quality for vaccines by Gavi. Confronted
vaccine to our children during with steep hike in prices of IPV,
NID, the testing of bOPV is made India approached Gavi for partial
more stringent and the same will support for further procurements,
be dispatched to states for public as India is also a Gavi eligible
use after the clearance from country and the same has been
national testing laboratory for each agreed to by Gavi Board.

10 POLICY AND REGULATORY NEWS BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2019 | www.biospectrumindia.com

Kerela to roll out UHS by May Centre to
establish panel
Kerela government will roll out a lakh families compared to RSBY’s on affordable
Universal Health Security Scheme 42 lakh. Under the new scheme medicines
by combining Rashtriya Swasthya to be launched by May, members
Bima Yojana (RSBY) and of all the insured families will The government of India
Karunya Scheme. Other schemes be provided treatment worth will be constituting a
under the health department Rs 1 lakh from the insurance standing committee on
will also be incorporated with company. Expenses above this affordable medicines and
this. The new scheme, conceived and up to Rs 5 lakh will be health products that would
as the Central government’s given to the hospitals concerned act as a recommending
Ayushman Bharat, was putting directly from government for body to the national drug
a more financial burden on the designated health procedures of pricing regulator with
state and was covering only 18 lifestyle diseases. respect to prices of drugs
and health products.
India’s second largest govt. According to the Department
hospital opens in Sikkim of Pharmaceuticals, the
committee will have Member
Sikkim has taken a giant leap Sochaygang hospital was built at a Health of Niti Aayog as its
in the sphere of healthcare with cost of Rs 830 crore and took nine Chairman. The committee
the inauguration of a 1,002- years to complete. The overall cost shall be a recommending
bed hospital and foundation of the project will be Rs 1,281 crore. body to National
laying of the first government The hospital is equipped with Pharmaceutical Pricing
medical college at Sochaygang highly-sophisticated equipment, Authority (NPPA) regarding
near Gangtok. Chief minister including MRI, CT scanners, prices of drugs and health
Pawan Chamling inaugurated Sir orthopantomogram machine and products. The other members
Thutob Namgyal Memorial Multi- Doppler fetal monitor, among of the committee will be
Speciality Hospital and claimed it others. Earlier, the CM had laid Chief Economic Advisor
was the second biggest healthcare the foundation stone of the first of Ministry of Finance,
facility in the country after the All government medical college which Secretary of Department
India Institute of Medical Sciences will be constructed at a cost of of Health Research, NLEM
in New Delhi. Spread over 15 acres about Rs 556 crore over 8.5 acres Vice-Chairperson, Joint
of land, the first phase of the adjacent to the new hospital. Secretary of Department
of Industrial Policy and
Promotion, DG of Health
Services in Ministry of Health
and Family Welfare. The
subject experts in biomedical
devises, pharmaceuticals
and biotechnology etc. will
be invitee members in the
committee.

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2019 | www.biospectrumindia.com STARTUP NEWS 11

5C Network Sky7Ventures invests
secures seed funding in Abita Healthcare

Unitus Ventures, Axilor, and Centre for Innovation Abita Healthcare, a Gurugram based health-
Incubation and Entrepreneurship (CIIE), the technology tech startup has raised seed funding from
business incubator of IIM Ahmedabad, have recently Sky7Ventures and others. Sky7Ventures is
invested an undisclosed amount of seed funding in 5C a Michigan, USA based early stage investor
Network, a health-tech startup. 5C Network operates a with global footprints. The funds will be
radiology-focused online portal used in expanding the geographical reach
that connects the five stakeholders of the startup’s service to other cities and to
of radio diagnosis: doctor, add to the overall product mix. The business
radiologist, patient, technologist, model of Abita Healthcare involves an
and hospital. The platform brings integrated operations solution for medical
together specialist radiologists practitioners in running their clinics.
from all over the country and gets Starting with just a handful of customers
them equipped with machine in November 2017, the startup now boasts
intelligence to make sure that of 40 such clinics that have adopted their
every report can be read by the programme. These are spread across just
best available radiologist in the three cities, Indore, Pune and Ahmedabad.
fastest possible time. It allows hospitals and diagnostic The startup helps with digitizing the entire
centres to upload scans directly to the cloud where process flow in a clinic and automates the
automated data extraction and analysis is done by 5C different operations into a cohesive flow
Network’s proprietary algorithm. Curated information with of data. The highlight of the offering from
pre-filled reports is generated which is then accessed by a Abita Healthcare is the module Doc32
wide array of specialists available. which is a comprehensive tool in the hands
of the doctors.

12 FINANCE NEWS BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2019 | www.biospectrumindia.com

Aurobindo to buy oncology products from Spectrum Pharma

Aurobindo Pharma Biopharma LLC, a wholly-owned USA Inc. will acquire
has agreed to acquire a subsidiary of Aurobindo Pharma the assets on a debt free
portfolio of seven branded and cash free basis. The
oncology injectable acquisition will help
products from Spectrum Aurobindo enter the
Pharmaceuticals Inc. branded oncology market
The acquisition involves with a range of products
an upfront payment of that are well recognized by
$160 million in cash, plus the oncology community.
up to $140 million on Aurobindo Group will also
achieving regulatory and acquire a well-established
sales-based milestones. and experienced branded
The acquisition also gives commercial infrastructure
Aurobindo a branded commercial to continue commercializing these
infrastructure in the US. Acrotech brands.

Natco Pharma Strides Pharma to acquire
invests Rs 100Cr in full stake in Vensun Pharma
agrochemical space
Strides Pharma Science Limited has announced that its
Natco Pharma Limited has initiated step down subsidiary Strides Pharma, Inc has entered into
work on green-field manufacturing an arrangement to acquire 100 per cent stake in Vensun
facilities for producing Niche Pharmaceuticals, Inc, a US-based Generics Company. The
Agrichemical products in the board of directors of Strides have taken the same on record.
Nellore District of Andhra Pradesh. Vensun was founded in 2011 with an asset-light partner-
These facilities will manufacture driven business model to develop products for the US generics
both Agrichemical Technical and markets. It entered into a partnership with the erstwhile
Formulation products. Natco strongly Shasun Pharmaceuticals Limited for a range of difficult
believes that its pharma strength in to develop products on a 50:50 profit share arrangement.
chemistry coupled with an acumen Vensun has a strategic focus on niche ANDAs with a portfolio
towards selection of niche molecules of 16 commercialized ANDAs, four of which are partnered with
would differentiate itself in the Strides and constitute a significant part of Vensun’s current
Agrichemical space as well. Natco revenues of approx. $17 million. Its portfolio also comprises
expects the facilities in Nellore district additional 13 filed ANDAs which includes Strides Competitive
to be commissioned by end of 2019 Generic Therapy (CGT) designated product with $ 400 million
with a total capital expenditure of Rs market opportunity. Vensun also has a development pipeline
100 crore. with two other partners for 10 products.

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2019 | www.biospectrumindia.com BUDGET 13

INTERIM BUDGET 2019-20

Centre announces setting up
National Artificial Intelligence Portal
Interim Budget 2019-20 was
presented in Parliament on and availability of medicines operating or being established in
Feb 1, by the Union Minister at affordable prices through the country presently have been
for Finance, Corporate Affairs, Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi announced since 2014.
Railways & Coal, Piyush Goyal. Kendras, the Finance Minister
Besides having a major Scheme added. In his reaction, Prime
for the farmers, it provides tax Minister Narendra Modi has
sops and sets the Developmental The Finance Minister lauded the budget as the budget
Agenda for the years to come. announced that a National for New India which will energise
Presenting the budget Goyal Artificial Intelligence Portal will the nation. Underlining the
said “through the world’s be developed soon as a part of importance of safeguarding the
largest healthcare programme, the National Programme on interests of the unorganised
Ayushman Bharat - to provide ‘Artificial Intelligence’. The
medical treatment to nearly Department of Industrial sector, he said PM Shram
50 crore people in the country, Policy and Promotion Yogi Man Dhan Yojana
around 10 lakh patients have will now be renamed will be of great help.
already benefited through free as the Department This sector needed
treatment for medical treatment for Promotion of more safeguarding of
which would have otherwise cost Industries and Internal their interests and the
them Rs 3,000 crore. Lakhs of Trade. Goyal also Budget for New India
poor and middle class people are announced setting has done so. Ayushman
also benefiting from reduction in up of a new - the 22nd Bharat Yojana and social
the prices of essential medicines, All India Institutes of security schemes are
cardiac stents and knee implants, Medical Sciences (AIIMS) also going to
in Haryana. He said that touch their
14 of the 21 AIIMS lives, PM
added.

INDUSTRY REACTIONS like Ayushman Bharat last year, expectations were
high for the 2019 Budgetary recommendations on
An ‘election year’ Budget that expectedly has healthcare. Some inclusions on outpatient care and
something for everyone, from farmers to traders, diagnostics would have been great. We would have
workers in unorganized sector to the salaried middle liked to see in this Budget a roadmap for healthcare
class. The government did well to balance the populist development programmes announced last year to
tone of the Budget by signalling its commitment to be implemented seamlessly across the country. Dr
stick to the road of fiscal discipline. It was however Shravan Subramanyam, Managing Director,
disappointing to see the absence of any additional India and Neighbouring Markets, Roche
allocation for healthcare or incentives for Science & Diagnostics India
Technology. For the startups sector, Angel tax holiday
for 10 years was expected but it did not happen. Kiran In November 2018, it was announced that
Mazumdar- Shaw, CMD, Biocon Ayurveda departments will be opened in all the new
19 AIIMS, such initiative will further the government’s
It is a progressive budget that addresses both the mission of ‘Ayurveda for Public Health’. A few months
current challenges being faced by the economy as well ago, the Ministry of AYUSH took the pioneering step
as presents an outline of the vision the government has of publishing the guidelines for insurance coverage to
for the future of India ten years ahead. FICCI would Ayurvedic treatment and settlement of claims on the
work alongside government to realise this national basis of benchmark rates for various interventions.
mission and support it in all its endeavours such Following this the Insurance Regulatory Development
as Ayushman Bharat, Make in India, Digital India, Authority (IRDA) issued clarifications to general
Clean India and Green India. Sandip Somany, and health insurance companies and Third Party
President, Federation of Indian Chambers of Administrators (TPAs) to provide coverage to Ayurveda
Commerce and Industry (FICCI)

With the announcement of ambitious projects

14 BUDGET BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2019 | www.biospectrumindia.com

and other systems of medicines under AYUSH. We be developed soon, and this is a very welcome step for
hope in coming years Ayurvedic treatment will also IoT enabled companies like iRAM. Udaya Bhaskar
be covered under Ayushman Bharat. Dr Partap Rao Abburu, CEO & Managing Director, iRam
Chauhan, Director, Jiva Ayurveda Technologies

While it is good that they were able to find funds for With the announcement of National Artificial
the defense sector, there was nothing pathbreaking for Intelligence portal, we expect India to be propelled
the healthcare. In fact, not just for healthcare, there on the path of leveraging advanced and disruptive
should have been more resources for dealing with technologies for economic prosperity and growth.
rising unemployment, quality of education and rural Aakrit Vaish, CEO and Co-founder, Haptik
poor. Dr BS Ajaikumar, Chairman and CEO,
Healthcare Global Enterprises The interim budget is on expected lines given that
the country is going to polls in another few months.
Creating a healthy India with distress-free and The government must look at better partnerships and
comprehensive wellness system for all is a laudable incentives for the private healthcare and diagnostic
aim, which can be achieved by the widespread adoption providers if it expects to successfully achieve its
of indigenously developed medical technologies that target of universal healthcare for all in the country in
solve problems faced by Bharat and India both. With the next few years. Arindam Haldar, CEO, SRL
the focus on Digital India in the last few years and Diagnostics
integrated with this New AI initiative will help us to
meet some of the challenges in the healthcare industry. We expected the government to provide sops for
Siraj Dhanani & A. Vijayarajan, Founders, the healthcare service providers and encourage them
InnAccel Technologies to adopt technology like Artificial Intelligence, Virtual
Reality, and the likes. These technology implantations
It is heartening that the government has declared will revolutionize precision based diagnosis, detection
a “Healthy India” as part of its future vision for the and prevention of diseases and benefit the citizens
country. I however feel that the government should of the country. Dr Somesh Mittal, Managing
have taken some positive steps towards increasing Director & CEO, Vikram Hospital
the public healthcare expenditure as percentage
of GDP from beyond a mere 1%, and announced This year’s interim budget has limitations to address
some incentives to enable the spread of modern the issues relating to poor public infrastructure.
healthcare system and hospitals beyond the cities to Further measures must be undertaken to provision
smaller towns and villages. The government should public-private partnerships to create a sustainable
have also reduced import duty on implants to healthcare system under good governance in addition
make joint replacements affordable to the masses. to provisioning the availability of skilled manpower
Dr Vikram Shah, Chairman & Managing for the hospital sector. As for the inter-country
Director, Shalby Meditourism, the industry will see an increase since
the announcement of increased scope of inter-state
The announcement to build a Digital India that communication and transport. Ishiqa Multani,
reaches every citizen by creating innumerable start- Executive Director, Sagar Hospitals
ups and jobs, will give a major impetus to the smart
city initiative. Along with that a national AI portal will In terms of healthcare, the citizens of India,
will look forward to even better facilities and more
infrastructural developments in deeper pockets
and hinterlands. Upgrading the national health
mechanism should always be a primary agenda for any
government to come. We can see significant measures
to help poor and marginal population of our country
in this interim budget. Dr Alok Roy, Chairman
Medica Group of Hospitals

We must not lose this opportunity to address the
urban-rural imbalance in health infrastructure and
ensure specific policies to encourage private sector to
invest in the same. The announcement of a National
Centre on Artificial Intelligence is also a big positive.
AI today has great potential in transforming and
designing new tools which will equip doctors in the
fight against non-communicable diseases. Sangita
Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo
Hospitals Group



16 Q&A BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2019 | www.biospectrumindia.com

“Basel Area, Switzerland is the perfect
location to do business in Europe”

« the fact that India’s FDI outflows have more than
doubled in 2017, we see a strong increase in the interest
Paul Eschmann, of Indian companies to expand their global footprint
Director Asia, to Europe and also to diversify their risk by investing
BaselArea.swiss in a politically very stable country like Switzerland.
Switzerland and Basel in particular, with its top notch
Interview with Paul Eschmann, Director Asia at life sciences cluster, is a perfect launchpad for business
BaselArea.swiss, the official economic promotion activities in Europe.
organization of the Basel Area. He speaks about
the strong life sciences cluster in the Basel Area and You mentioned that the Basel Area has one of the
how Indian companies can benefit from the unique best suited life sciences ecosystems in Europe.
ecosystem and the growth potential for their business What makes it so?
in Europe. Nestled right at the border of France and Germany, and
with unique position of the Rhine river passing through,
What is the role of BaselArea.swiss and how do the Basel Area has always been the major economic hub
you support Indian companies? of the region. As long ago as the Middle Ages, the region
BaselArea.swiss is north-western Switzerland’s joint had already grown to become an important centre for
initiative for innovation and economic promotion. trade, and to this day it remains a major centre for
I am a part of the International Markets & Business science and research. Today only the pharmaceutical
Affairs team and our mandate is to support Indian products export out of the Basel Area accounts for more
companies that are interested in growing their business than 52 bn USD.
by expanding to Europe and advise them on the unique
benefits that the Basel Area has to offer them. With Home to major multinational corporations like
our strong network and longstanding expertise, we Roche, Novartis, Actelion, Syngenta, Abbott, Bachem,
advise companies during each stage of their expansion Lonza and more than 700 other life sciences companies,
process, starting with: Basel boasts of a huge life sciences workforce with top
global talent across the value chain - from basic research
a. Evaluation & Preparation: We provide current to commercialization, easy access and flight connections
data on market conditions, business environment, throughout Europe, one of the most liberal labour laws
industry knowledge, taxes and legal issues customized in Europe and a very competitive corporate tax model.
to each project requirements. Due to the superb business environment, many Indian
companies have set up operations in Basel, like Dr.
b. Location search & Site visit: We facilitate Reddy’s, Dishman Group, Biocon, Jupiter Bioscience,
contacts to the right experts like our government Bilcare Research, Naari, Divis Laboratories, and many
authorities, industry and legal experts, and provide successful biotechnology start-ups.
professional support during real estate search.
Amongst other factors, having a competitive
c. Setting-up operations: We arrange meetings corporate tax is one of the key aspects for site
with local partners and institutions, thereby helping selection. How does Basel fare with respect to its
companies in building relationships to local authorities, other European counterparts?
experts and organizations. Yes, you are right in a way. But apart from very
attractive taxes, the size and specialization of the
d. Settled-in: We help companies in growing their industry ecosystem, financing availability, general
network through our events and technology experts as business environment, political stability, infrastructure
well as in facilitating connections with the cantons. support & quality of life also play a significant role in
the decision-making process.
Since we are a government-funded body, we provide
our services completely free of charge. If we compare the innovation strength of life
sciences clusters by the percentage of therapeutic
Today we are very active in India and considering companies, we find that the Basel Area is much above
other European regions. Also, Basel employs the highest
number of people in the life sciences industry. This

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2019 | www.biospectrumindia.com Q&A 17

talent is well provided for by world-class biomedical Credit: ©Basel Tourismus. According to a recent study by Mercer, Basel is ranked the world’s top 10 city to live.
research institutes, like the ETH Zürich Department
of Biosystems Science and Engineering, University of assembled products and suppliers. Medtech giants
Basel with its renowned Department of Biomedicine, such as Straumann and DePuy Synthes as well as
Pharma and Bio Center, Friedrich Miescher Institute small and medium-sized enterprises such as Medartis,
for Biomedical Research, the Swiss Nanotech Institute Composites Busch and BienAir are well established
(SNI), the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics or the Swiss in the region. Cosmetics and Nutraceuticals have also
Tropical and Public Health Institute. gained momentum in the recent years with giants like
Colgate Palmolive, Henkel, Nivea and many others
Infrastructure-wise Basel Area offers a wide choice operating out of the Basel Area. Also, the Logistics
of real estate options – from large development plots, cluster is extremely strong owing to its rail, road and sea
to production and warehousing facilities, right through accessibility. The 990 logistics companies in the Basel
to office space and units suitable for light industrial and Area handle almost 20 million tonnes of economic
laboratory purposes. Our Infrapark and Technology goods every year. Basel has one of Europe’s largest
Park are most active in this purpose. The Switzerland switch yards and 28% of Swiss exports, 32% of Swiss
Innovation Park Basel Area offers academic, seed stage imports are handled in this region per year.
and spin-out R&D groups access to an independent
biomedicine and biotechnology research environment, What does the future hold for Basel?
a dynamic peer community, and a first-class ecosystem. It looks very promising and we have seen a lot of interest
from Asia, particularly China and India. Being 36% of
Now, coming to your question about the corporate the population non-Swiss, Basel is an international city
tax rate, let me mention that Basel offers one of the with English as a standard business language. Foreign
most attractive tax rates in Switzerland. E.g. based on companies esteem this international and multicultural
the adopted cantonal tax reform in the Canton of Basel- environment and there has been a constant increase
Stadt, companies will benefit from an overall effective in the number of companies coming to Basel over the
corporate tax rate (incl. federal tax) of 13% or 11% if past few years. Also, the innovation ecosystem of Basel
the benefits of the IP box and other advantages can be has been developing at an increased pace. The number
leveraged. Under certain circumstances, new companies of 33 patent applications per 100’000 inhabitants is
can benefit from a tax holiday of up to ten years, with no the highest in Switzerland. The commitment to the
risk of claw back, which is quite unique in Switzerland. region of global players such as Novartis and Roche
are further proof of the Basel Area’s excellent economic
Apart from life sciences, do you see any other development potential. Novartis, for example, will
strong sectors in Basel? complete an extension to its campus in 2020, and
Yes, the Basel Area is also an attractive location for Roche is investing three billion in real estate during this
companies in the information and communications same period. A total of over CHF 7 billion is being spent
technology (ICT) sector. Adobe, for example, operates by companies and public institutions on new research,
a development centre here for its content management development, and production infrastructures in the
software. A special field of local ICT cluster is digital next few years. I would say the future is very bright.
healthcare, esp. bioinformatics. In recent years,
complementary start-ups such as Genedata, a world
leader in bioinformatics, and Magnolia, a global leader
in content management software, have emerged.
Since the life science industry is highly data-intensive,
technologies like AI, machine learning, big data & IOT
are very much in demand.

Apart from ICT, Basel also offers great potential
for companies in medtech and precision goods. Many
companies in the watch industry have expanded
beyond their specific know-how and diversified into
the medtech industry as outfitters, manufacturers of

Contact Paul Eschmann, Director Asia Contact BaselArea.swiss’s ADVERTORIAL
Email: [email protected] India office
Phone: +41 79 342 75 35 Email: [email protected]
www.baselarea.swiss Phone: +91 91671 41083.

18 COMPANY NEWS BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2019 | www.biospectrumindia.com

HP brings full colour 3D printing platform

HP Inc. has expanded its 3D printing portfolio in India with the
introduction of its new Jet Fusion 300/500 series of 3D printers, the
industry’s first 3D printing technology to enable manufacturers to

produce engineering-grade functional parts in full color, black or
white in a fraction of the time of other solutions. The new Jet
Fusion 300/500 series complements HP’s existing industrial-
grade Jet Fusion 4200/ 4210 3D solutions which deliver
the lowest cost per part and are designed for manufacturing
environments. Currently, the new 3D printing facility at AP
MedTech Zone, Vizag features HP 4200 MJF printer among
many other 3D Printers. This facility is using the printers for
prototyping and batch production of parts for medical devices
like MRI, ECG, Ultrasound machines and so on.

Trivitron unveils Digital Hetero introduces
generic Lapatinib in India
Mammography system
Hetero, one of India’s leading generic
Kiran Medical Systems, the radiology division of Trivitron pharmaceutical companies and world’s
Healthcare, recently introduced its innovation driven largest producer of anti-retroviral drugs,
Elite – Flat Panel Digital C-arm & Felicia – Digital has announced the launch of generic
Mammography system during the Arab Health Convention version of Lapatinib (250 mg) tablets
in Dubai. The Elite Digital C-arm offers a World-Class in India. The product is marketed and
Surgical Imaging experience for high precision image distributed under the brand name
Guided Procedures. Elite Digital features high resolution ‘HERTAB’ by Hetero Healthcare Ltd. It is
digital image acquisition with 1K X 1K Flat Panel Detector made available in two Stock Keeping Unit
and 16 bit image processing. With World-Class 5 kW, 40 (SKUs), each consisting of 30 tablets and
KHz X-Ray Generator with ABS for optimized dose, Elite 150 tablets. HERTAB (Lapatinib) is an
Digital delivers superior imaging with higher grayscale oral therapy indicated for the treatment
resolution that makes various anatomical structures visible of postmenopausal women with HER2-
with greater accuracy. Felicia – Digital Mammography positive advanced breast cancer patients
system is a result of Kiran’s commitment to fight Breast whose disease has progressed after taking
Cancer through the power of advanced technology. Felicia Trastuzumab therapy. Lapatinib is used
is designed in such a way that the overall mammogram in combination with other medication
experience is less painful for patients, easier for caregivers Capecitabine or Letrozole, which together,
and delivering high quality clinical images at low radiation inhibit the growth of cancer cells in
dose. Felicia features an advanced Cesium Iodide patients.
scintillator detector with 77 micron pixel pitch that helps in
delineating the smallest of calcifications that is pivotal for
early detection of breast cancer.

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2019 | www.biospectrumindia.com Q&A 19

“We have a message of
taking India from diabetes
capital to diabetes care capital”

« What is the role of the new leadership in the
business?
Dr Gaurav Laroia, I come from a philosophy where I think it is important
General Manager, to have a purpose behind the business, to know why
Roche Diabetes Care we exist. Thus I would say, our role as a company
India is to collect, integrate and analyze relevant data
to support treatment decisions and delay disease
Roche Diabetes Care India is a pioneer in the progression because in diabetes the biggest
development of blood glucose monitoring problems are cardiac and diabetic foot. So if we
systems, and a global leader for diabetes just sell strips meters it would be like opening a
management systems and services. Currently with box of playing cards and dropping them on India. If
a staff strength of 260, it holds a 48 per cent market the data is not connected back to the patient or to
share. The company has been encouraging the the healthcare provider you cannot analyze this
use of self-monitoring of blood glucose amongst to be able to manage the disease through
people with diabetes. Especially with the threat of integrated disease management. Thus, our role
India becoming the world’s diabetes capital and our portfolio now include not only the
looming large, patient awareness is a core focus traditional meters and strips but also meters and
for the organization. India is critical market for strips connected to digital devices both for the
Roche Diabetes and ranks among top 15 in the world patient as well as for the healthcare professional.
wide spread of the company. Asia Pacific region is
the fastest growing region and India is one of the Apart from doctors and patients, who are the
fastest growing market in Asia Pacific. It is growing in other people, are you looking at to gather data?
double digits. Depending upon the segment that we target we need
to meet the respective stakeholders such as the
The company announced the appointment of clinicians, the patients and as well as surrounding
Dr Gaurav Laroia as General Manager for its India providers like the nurses or the dieticians and payers
operations. Dr Gaurav assumed his new role with like insurance companies. Thus, because the task is
effect from January 1, 2019. He reports to Pedro so immense and multidisciplinary, we will definitely
Goncalves, Head of Roche Diabetes Care Asia Pacific partner to achieve the job to be done. It could be a
and will be a member of the Roche Diabetes Care Asia partnership to provide us broader access across
Pacific Leadership Team. He relocated to India, it could be a partnership to help us reach the
Mumbai from his role as Head of Programme segment of people with diabetes whether it is Type 1
Management Office (PMO) APAC in Singapore. He or the gestational diabetes population or the
has more than 18 years of experience in uncontrolled diabetic. We feel that data can help
commercial operations, business development, monitor the control that diabetics have achieved and
and management consulting in healthcare-related prevent the downstream comorbidities because
multinational organisations in India, Singapore that is a big cost. So we need to have the capacity
and the USA. He holds a Ph.D. in Molecular & and the capability to be a good partner across the
Cellular Biology from New York University ecosystem as we think about integrated disease
School of Medicine, USA and a Masters in Genetics management.
from the University of Cambridge, UK. He shared
his views on his new appointment and plans for the Have you partnered with any insurance company?
company in coming months. Edited excerpts; No, we are currently not partnered with any
company but we are actively seeking
partnerships across the ecosystem to transform India
into a diabetes care capital. I believe, there is a need to
be able to provide data at a patient level such that

20 Q&A BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2019 | www.biospectrumindia.com

they can facilitate adherence to treatment and category. Thus the potential is huge. It is difficult to
therapy thus reducing or delaying the risk. answer whether we will grow and how much we will
grow but our aim is always to keep the patient at the
Which are the issues that need to be centre of the market opportunity and the opportunity
addressed in the coming period which needs to help patients with diabetes is huge. If we do that
great attention from your side? the potential to grow our business is immense.
The biggest issue is that there are 83 million people
with diabetes in the country and only 32 million cases Do you have any plans for expanding the
are diagnosed. Out of these only 25 million are treated. business to reach out to positional patients?
Thus by numbers, the number of cases treated is less What role the government has to play?
than 10 per cent. Thus, the biggest challenge that Our philosophy revolves around the
we face is the need to really reframe the problem. patient. The patient is at the centre of our strategy.
Thus we will focus on our resourcing, the type of We have a 1000 day ambition because it is 1000
talent that we need in the organization and the days to 100 years of the discovery of insulin and
partnerships needed to answer the question of the problem in India still remains big. Thus I believe,
how to solve the bigger problem which is at the the government is a key stakeholder in all of this.
patient level. I believe, if we solve the problem for The government has made Non Communicable
the patient and the care giver, which is the Diseases (NCDs) a key area of emphasis. Within
healthcare professional, business will follow. NCD they have made diabetes a key area of
focus. So the government is working very closely
As part of the CSR activities, how you are as India being the diabetes capital. There are
actually addressing these issues? too many things to address around the patient
We are very cautious that our Corporate Social today for any one company to do alone. I think the
Responsivity (CSR) activities follow the right guidelines government plays a major role along with public-
and do not intertwine with any business interest. The private partnerships and private partnerships.
CSR activity today is focused but our attempt is to
define our north star and our north star is our patient Do you have any plans for public or
and their unmet need. So just from a company selling private partnerships or enter private /
strips and meters, we are moving into a digital space. private partnerships?
We have a portfolio with apps and everything else We are looking at all things public-private,
associated with it that allows us to get to the root private-private and we are participating in the
cause of the problem. Our portfolio is designed to international digital healthcare symposium
digitally address the needs of the patients and to help because we feel that we have assets that can add
us get to integrated disease management, improving value. It will take data to convince people and we
the lives of patients and at the same time serving our are building that data. We have also established
business interest. centres of excellence at certain diabetes institutes,
including within government spaces, to be able to
What kind of growth you would be looking at for help with capability development.
this coming year?
We have had double-digit growth for the last several Are you looking at startups to experience
years. Our attempt is to continue to outpace market some of these issues?
growth in this category. We aim to grow continuously Yes. We want to first know what is the job to be done
and rapidly in this sector and hopefully in the coming and does the job to be done require a startup or does
months, we can talk patient numbers and how many it require an incumbent. We want to partner for
lives we have been able to impact and to translate that the sake of providing integrated disease
into growth. That is the story for our future. management to patients in India and we view media
as a key enabler for spreading our message. We
Do you feel that in the next few years will it be have a message of taking India from the diabetes
possible for you to record the 50 per cent in capital to the diabetes care capital and we need to
market share considering the launching of new partner for this both with the government as well as
portfolios or digital technology? the private sector and we are open to any
Of course, we are putting in place a foundation that partnership because at the core of our strategy are
will allow us to expand our share of the market. By the patient’s needs.
figures, only 2 5 m illion people a re t reated a nd only
10 per cent of those fall under the controlled diabetes Narayan Kulkarni
[email protected]



22

Karnataka’s consistent
focus on innovation and
technology has seen the
state emerge as one of the
preferred destinations for
new technologies in the fields
of information technology
and biotechnology. The
government, through
Department of IT, BT and
S&T has created a favourable
ecosystem for both startups
and established companies
alike. Various initiatives
and programmes have
been specifically curated
to promote growth in the
sector. This has resulted in
the state being recognised as
the Information Technology,
Biotechnology, Knowledge
and Startup Capital of India.
- Shri H D Kumaraswamy,
Chief Minister,
Government of Karnataka

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23

Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bengaluru
Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied
Biotechnology (IBAB), Bengaluru CONTENT
Centre for Human Genetics (CHG), Bengaluru
Centre for Biotechnology Research (CBR), Bagalkot “New bio policy lays emphasis on 24
strengthening bio ecosystem”
- Dr. G Parameshwara, Deputy Chief Minister

(Minister in Charge of IT, BT and S&T), Government of Karnataka

Karnataka – Creating World-Class Bio-Ecosystem 26

Startup Innovation Programmes 27

Government’s Initiatives 28

Biotechnology Skill Enhancement Programme (BiSEP) 29

K-tech Bio-Innovation Hubs 30

How Experts View Karnataka’s Achievements? 31

Centre for Cellular And Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP), Bengaluru Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre (BBC), Bengaluru

Source: A study report from K-tech (formerly known as Karnataka Biotechnology and Information Technology Services (KBITS),
Government of Karnataka and the survey report “Primary Research-Based Profiling of Biotech Sector in Karnataka”

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2019 | www.biospectrumindia.com

24

“New bio policy lays emphasis
on strengthening bio ecosystem”
Karnataka was the first State in the country to
introduce a Policy on Bio-Technology, when the Bio- biotechnology research Institutions.
Tech sector was in a nascent stage. The Millennium Driving the future growth of the biotech sector
Bio-Technology Policy of 2001, followed by the Millennium
Bio-Technology Policy-II, in 2009, have been instrumental in the State is a proactive Government of Karnataka
to a great extent in bolstering the development of an eco- policy that was one of the first to foresee the potential
system for the Bio-Tech sector to grow and flourish. The of biotechnology, and came out with a slew of well-
state has released the Karnataka Bio-Technology Policy timed policies, offering incentives and concessions to
III in 2017 as the state recognizes the need to continually stakeholders.
change the policy to meet the changing needs of the
sector. In this regard BioSpectrum India spoke to How is the Biotechnology Policy III being
Dr. G Parameshwara, Deputy Chief Minister (Minister in implemented?
Charge of IT, BT and S&T), Government of Karnataka on this The Millennium Biotechnology Policy of 2001 and the
new policy initiatives of the state government to take the second version of the policy in 2009 have enabled
industry to the next level. development of necessary infrastructure, institutions
of higher learning and research, development of skills
Karnataka is termed as the Biotech Capital of India. etc., for the growth of this sector in Karnataka. The
What steps the government is taking in establishing Department of IT, BT and S&T, Government of Karnataka
biotechnology sector further? is continuously working in close association with
Karnataka has been at the forefront of biotechnology in Government of India, Association of Biotechnology Led
India and is rightly known as the biotech capital of India. Enterprises (ABLE), Indian Institute of Science (IISc),
Over the years, the development of a strong ecosystem National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), University
and modern infrastructure through a proactive policy of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Life Sciences Sector Skill
framework enabled Karnataka to achieve sustainable Development Council (LSSDC), Council of Scientific &
development and become the flag bearer of India’s Industrial Research (CSIR)-Indian Institute of Chemical
biotechnology growth. Bengaluru, Karnataka’s Technology (IICT) and other institutions to take up policy
science capital and Asia’s fastest growing initiatives. The latest Biotechnology Policy III (2017-
technopolis, has developed into an ideal base 2022) was designed to give an impetus to the growth
for the biotechnology industry.
of the bioeconomy in Karnataka. The latest policy
The biotech ecosystem in Karnataka lays emphasis on strengthening of the ecosystem
comprises the biotech industry, including required to give a boost to the startups, access to
a large array of biotechnology enterprises, funds for R&D and product development, attractive
including large companies and mid- sized incentives for investment, and mentorship for
ones. Alongside the industry, is an array of further growth of the Biotechnology Sector in
new, promising biotech start-ups. Karnataka. Attention for R&D and collaboration
has been put on several emerging areas such
The support for as development of new technology platforms in
industry and startups Agriculture, Anti-Microbial Drug Resistance,
comes from the strong Microbiome, Rare Diseases,
biotech research base in Synthetic Biology, Animal & Marine
Karnataka, comprising Biotechnology amongst others. I am
of many nationally and confident that the objectives listed
internationally renowned in the policy will be achieved during
the policy period.

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2019 | www.biospectrumindia.com

25

How is the government planning to establish “The tech-savvy Karnataka
the industry-academia balance for enhancing government would soon draw a
biotechnology? new plan to consolidate the state’s
With intent to bridge the gap between industry leadership in the IT, biotech and
requirements and quality of graduates, the now- science sectors. There is a need to
renamed Biotechnology Finishing School Programme, create a talent pool and updating
Biotechnology Skill Enhancement Programme (BiSEP) the syllabus at institutional level
provides students with the experience of real-life in order to keep our home talents
industry-oriented experience working on challenges, up-to-date on the ever-changing
which are not covered in regular academic curriculum. technology and innovations globally.
The state aims to strengthen and
The Millennium Biotech Policy-II of the Government create more opportunities of
of Karnataka, set-up in 2011, the Biotechnology growth in IT, biotech and science
Finishing School (BTFS) to impart skill development and technology sectors. There is a
by providing appropriate course content and duration need to invest in skill development,
to equip students with industry-ready skill sets. The human potential and research and
BTFS Programme provides practical exposure and development to ensure a future-
experiential learning to equip biotech students with ready workforce. The progress of
practical skill-sets that enable them to take up jobs in science and technology sectors
the biotech industry. The BiSEP in Karnataka imparts would help in making Bengaluru a
industry-focused, industry-ready professional skills to leading city in innovation.”
increase the employability.
- Dr. G Parameshwara,
What efforts are being made towards pushing and Deputy Chief Minister (Minister
promoting the startups in Karnataka?
In Karnataka, entrepreneurs have started-up new in Charge of IT, BT and S&T),
biotech ventures, aided by Government funding, and Government of Karnataka
dipping into their personal funds.

One common thread that defines the startup
community is the drive to solve critical challenges in
India. These entrepreneurs are driven by possibilities,
and have made the leap, by capitalizing on the strong
industry and academia ecosystem in Karnataka.

There are more than 65 biotech startups operating
in Bengaluru. It is important to note that some of these
startups work at the intersection of general technology
and biotech, and as such, cannot be slotted into one of
the legacy biotech segments.

Karnataka has a network of good early-stage
incubators, including Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre
(BBC); Centre for Cellular And Molecular Platforms
(C-CAMP); Indian Institute of Science-Society for
Innovation and Development (IISc-SID); International
Centre for Innovation, Technology Transfer and
Entrepreneurship (IN-CITE) Technology Business
Incubator (TBI); Central Food Technological Research
Incubator (CFTRI); K-tech Agri-Innovation Centre,
K-tech Technology Business Incubator and Agri
Incubator Dharwad.

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26

Karnataka – Creating
World-Class Bio-Ecosystem

Karnataka is home to India’s biotech industry environment in Karnataka, has helped spawn many
majors, biotech startups and research institutions new startups. An excellent network of mentors and
of excellence that together create a business key resources that provide the necessary support to
environment, highly conducive to the successful entrepreneurs, on themes ranging from intellectual
creation of new startups across verticals. The property filing, to market-making, from regulatory
Business Ecosystem in Karnataka is one where large guidance to research monetization.
companies and startups co-exist symbiotically in
a thriving and viable ecosystem. Large companies Karnataka contributes US$6.5 Billion of India’s
provide the platform from where new expertise, new biotech revenues. In 2015, the biotech exports
entrepreneurs, and eventually, new startups emerge. revenues of Karnataka stood at US$4.91 Billion, while
For startups, the large companies provide the market the domestic revenues accounted for US$1.63 Billion.
for their service and product offerings, as well as for Amongst the biotech market segments in Karnataka,
human capital. Biopharma is the largest segment, contributing
64%, followed by BioServices (19%), Bioagri (14%),
The Human Capital Pool in Karnataka is very deep, bioindustrial (2%), and bioinformatics contributing
with talent available locally as well as those willing to (3%).
re-settle from other parts of India, and from overseas.
The breadth of expertise available is vast, cutting In Karnataka, the breadth and depth of biotech
across specializations. is very broad, and includes all the major biotech
segments. The state is home to over 300 biotech
The Business Infrastructure in Karnataka is very companies that include large, established companies,
strong, and includes an array of business support to small and medium companies. Karnataka has a
service firms, law firms, accounting firms, market dedicated Biotechnology Facilitation Cell in existence
research firms, business advisors, and mentors that since 2012 in K-tech and it functions as the key
have experience in supporting startups at all stages of facilitator to further implement the policy initiatives
business incubation. outlined in Biotechnology Policy.

The Venture Capital market in Bengaluru is ADVANTAGE KARNATAKA
competitive and has an understanding and interest in
biotech, and is more mature than in other regions. ■ 4th largest skilled workforce
■ More than 400 research and development firms
The Research Centres of Excellence, comprising ■ Pioneer in introducing niche policies
Indian Institute of Science (IISc), University of ■ Among top 15 start-up ecosystems of the world
Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Jawaharlal Nehru Centre ■ Karnataka is 4th largest technology cluster
for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), National
Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Central Food globally and 2nd fastest growing ecosystem in
Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Institute India 
for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine ■ Karnataka has over 4,000 start-ups with a share of
(inStem), National Tuberculosis Institute (NTI), nearly 30% of all start-ups in India
Neurobiology Research Centre (NRC), Indian Institute ■ 20+ Incubation and common instrumentation
of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Manipal Institute facilities like IBAB, NASSCOM, BBC, GIFTS, etc.
of Technology among others, support Karnataka in
basic scientific and translational research, creating
inter-connected and interpersonal networks of
communities of expertise. Lastly, the conducive policy

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2019 | www.biospectrumindia.com

27

STARTUP INNOVATION PROGRAMMES “Our vision is to
The future is for new enterprises. Entrepreneurs of today are solving transform Karnataka’s
current problems and managing to thrive in a difficult but large market. economy through
Centre for Cellular And Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP), an initiative of innovation. We believe
Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology, the Startups of today are
Government of India as an institution has been instrumental in supporting the leaders of tomorrow.
such initiatives, Bengaluru. The State Government
has sponsored almost
The Government of Karnataka has supported C-CAMP to set up three 1.25 lakh sq. ft. of
innovation programmes for startups spanning the whole gamut of life incubation space for
sciences, biotech and agriculture- 1. The Karnataka Startup Advancement the Startups. Under the
Program (K-SAP) BIO 50; 2. K-tech Agri-Innovation Centre; 3. K-tech Idea2PoC scheme and
Technology Business Incubator. These programmes are intended to ‘Elevate’ Programme
provide incubation, mentorship, knowledge-sharing and handholding about 254 Startups
support to startups at various stages of growth and ensure that their deep- have been funded by
science innovations in the field of life sciences including agriculture, reach the Government with an
the market. The main objective of these programmes are to meaningfully amount of Rs 60 crore.”
engage and work closely with Karnataka startups to enhance their odds - Dr. G Parameshwara,
of success and to enable startups achieve faster traction in their key Deputy Chief Minister
milestones. (Minister in Charge
of IT, BT and S&T),
The K-tech Agri-Innovation Centre at C-CAMP will attempt to promote Government of
deep-science and technology driven entrepreneurship in the agri-sector, Karnataka
leading to innovation, economic development and job creation in the
agricultural domain. The Centre is envisioned to identify specific agri-
health issues through an immersion programme, bring innovators together
to develop solutions for these issues and subsequently support and
nurture them to bring their solutions to the market.

In line with K-SAP, C-CAMP in association with K-tech (formerly known
as Karnataka Biotechnology and Information Technology Services (KBITS))
and Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre (BBC) has initiated a 1 year equity
based mentorship and capacity building program for startups based out of
Karnataka, the Karnataka Startup Advancement Program (K-SAP) BIO 50.

GROWTH DRIVERS Envisages the growth of 20,000 new start-ups, including Source: investkarnataka.co.in
6,000 product start-ups, 6 lakh jobs directly and 12 lakh
Nurturing Ecosystem indirectly, by 2020
Policy Push Strong policies like the i4 Policy, BT Millennium Policy,
Funding Opportunities ESDM Policy and the KAVGC Policy, giving the ecosystem
International Tie-ups a strong foundation to flourish
Facilitation Funding the growth of IT industry through its KIT-VEN-1
and 2 funds, IDEA2POC FUND for All technol-ogy based
sectors, GRAND CHALLENGES FUNDS and more
Swissnex, Bangalore — making Swiss start-ups “India
ready”; fact finding, market validation and entry to India

A dedicated Start-up Cell for the first time in India and
Start-up booster kit launched in 2016

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28

“Karnataka is a leader GOVERNMENT’S INITIATIVES
in knowledge-intensive Bengaluru is one of the top global innovation hubs, counted amongst the
industries for decades. likes of Tokyo, London, Beijing, Tel Aviv, New York etc. Globally, co-creation is
We take pride in our the key to innovation. Karnataka has developed appropriate policies which
human capital with encourage co-creation by developing collaborative platforms to accelerate
exemplary digital skills innovation. The government has adopted a multi-faceted approach to
and continue to maintain ensure that Karnataka remains the national leader in Innovation and
our leadership in also enhances its place in the global economy. This includes – focus on
emerging technologies. skilling, developing global alliances, incubating startups and providing a
Most key sectors today unique legal framework for supporting innovation. The state government
are getting disrupted by has embarked on developing global innovation alliances with the other
new technologies like innovation hubs of the world like US, Germany, France, Japan, Israel,
blockchain, Artificial UK, Finland, Netherlands, Australia, etc. The state is also fostering strong
Intelligence (AI) and partnerships between R&D institutions and industry so as to co-create
robotics, and that these innovative services and products for the benefit of the citizens.
are technologies that
we need to support. For The state government has also planned to introduce a Legal Framework
us to be future ready, for innovation in order to bring new and emerging technologies under
technology must be an enactment. The Draft Karnataka Innovation Authority Bill provides for
inclusive for people. The creation of Regulatory under which innovative technologies can be tested,
impetus is on bridging the by relaxing regulatory requirements, in a controlled testing environment.
digital divide for all strata The government believes innovation should lead to empowerment
of society.” of people. Karnataka has the tradition of promoting and encouraging
- Shri Gaurav Gupta, disruptive technologies and new business models.
Principal Secretary, Dept.
of IT, BT and S&T, Dept. of Bengaluru is an attractive destination for talent. It is due to availability
Commerce and Industries, of skilled people that the companies have chosen to establish their
Government of Karnataka operations. The emerging technologies such as Big Data Analytics,
Artificial Intelligence, IoT, Machine Learning, Robotics, Blockchain,
Aerospace and Defence etc., are throwing up challenges on the Human
Resources front. The state government has taken a lead in setting up
Centres of Excellence in these advanced technologies as a step towards
up-grading and re-skilling. Karnataka is indeed a role model in Skilling,
Incubation facilities, Technology Business incubators and Tech-Startups.

HIGHLIGHTS OF BIOTECH IN KARNATAKA

■ Karnataka accounted for 35% of India’s biotech industry
revolution

■ Biopharma is the biggest segment of biotech industry (~60%)
■ Karnataka is home to over 60% of the country’s biotech

companies
■ Karnataka accounts for 54% of India’s biotech Workforce
■ Biotech start-ups growing at 30% annually in the state
■ Karnataka contributes to around 1/3rd of the BT exports of

the country
■ First state in the country to bring out biotech policy

Version 3 of the policy

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2019 | www.biospectrumindia.com

29

BIOTECHNOLOGY SKILL ENHANCEMENT PROGRAMME (BiSEP) of Rs 44.17 crore. Of this, the state
The biotech industry in Karnataka internships. government will be contributing Rs
31.21 crore. The remaining amount
has globally 2% market share, 9% The BTFS launched in 2011 is supported by Department of
Biotechnology, Government of India
market share in Asia, while in India in 12 academic institutions has in form of fellowship of Rs 10,000 per
month for Non-Resident students of
it commands an impressive 35% been modified and renamed as Karnataka.

market share. Karnataka, known as “Biotechnology Skill Enhancement K-tech (Karnataka Innovation
& Technology Society) has entered
the Biotech Hub of India, has biotech Programme (BiSEP). At the end into MoU with CSIR – Institute of
Chemical Technology, Hyderabad
industries spread across Bengaluru, of first five years of the BTFS to strengthen the Skill Training
components under BiSEP as required
Tumkuru, Mysuru, Hubballi – programme, a total of 734 students by different sectors of industry.
Also, with Life Science Sector Skill
Dharwad, Mangaluru, Udupi, Belagavi have successfully completed the Development Council (LSSSDC) for
Accreditation and Assessment of
and other districts. The biotech course in 5 batches with overall selected eighteen (18) academic
institutes of higher learning across
industry in Karnataka provides placement record of little over 70% Karnataka to offer skill-based training
programme in various sub-domains
direct and indirect employment to which includes students who have of biotechnology. Now, Batch I and
II together, a total of 327 students
an estimated 19000-plus people not taken up placement being are pursuing the course under BiSEP
and among them 146 students come
with men constituting 69% of the offered. The companies associated under the category of non-resident
students of Karnataka.
workforce and women 31%. with BTFS for providing internship

The Vision Group of and placement have gradually

Biotechnology (VGBT) constituted increased in number from 66 in the

by Government of Karnataka had first year to current 350+ companies.

proposed setting up of Biotechnology The upgradation of laboratory

Finishing Schools (BTFS) and the infrastructure has contributed for

proposal was made as a part of improved research activities leading

Millennium Biotech Policy – II (2009 to publication of over 150 posters

– 2016). The first of its kind initiative and research articles both by

in the country was envisioned to students and faculties. Many of them

bridge the gap between industry have even fetched awards & prizes.

requirements and quality of students The state government has

by providing students the real-life approved rolling out BiSEP in the

industry-oriented experience by state for 5 years with a total budget

“We have set up 58 K-tech innovation centres across the State, majority
of which are outside Bengaluru. These provide a platform for promoting
innovation and entrepreneurship across the state. We firmly believe that
in order for Karnataka’s economy to grow and for the State to develop,
focus has to be on innovation and entrepreneurship. Our belief in deep
science/technology innovations in the agri-sector is key for promoting
entrepreneurship, economic development and job creation in the field
of Agriculture and hence in collaboration with Agriculture Department, a
Centre for Excellence for Agri Innovation has also been sanctioned to be set up in Bengaluru.”

- Shri R Girish, Managing Director, K-tech/KITS
(Karnataka Innovation & Technology Society), Department of Information Technology,

Biotechnology and Science & Technology, Government of Karnataka

K-tech COLLABORATE TO CO-CREATE CO-INNOVATE CO-INVENT

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2019 | www.biospectrumindia.com

30

K-tech Bio-Innovation Hubs

The Department through Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS) has supported INSTITUTE OF AGRI-
establishment of world-class institutes to provide trained manpower and undertake research in BIOTECHNOLOGY (IABT),
advance areas of biotechnology including Bio-IT, Human Genetics, Synthetic Biology, Bio Agriculture, UAS, DHARWAD
etc., and also, set up Innovation Hubs to catalyse the growth of innovators and technology-based The Government of
product startups in the region. Karnataka established
the Institute of Agri-
BANGALORE BIOINNOVATION CENTRE (BBC), BENGALURU Biotechnology (IABT)
The BBC is an initiative of Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS) (formerly known as at the University of
Karnataka Biotechnology and Information Technology Services (KBITS), Department of IT, BT and S&T, Agricultural Sciences
Government of Karnataka with a liberal funding support from Department of Biotechnology (DBT), (UAS), Dharwad in 2001
Government of India. It is located within Bangalore Helix Biotechnology Park at Electronic City. The by the forethought
Centre is a world class Incubation Centre with Central Instrumentation Facility in a 10 Acre campus of the Vision Group
with total built up area of above 50,000 sq ft. The Centre caters to the broad areas of Life Sciences i.e, on Biotechnology,
Healthcare (MedTech/ Pharma/Bio-Pharma), Agriculture, Food/ Nutrition, Industrial Biotechnology and Government of
Environmental Biotechnology. https://www.bioinnovationcentre.com/ Karnataka. IABT has
state-of the-art molecular
INSTITUTE OF BIOINFORMATICS CENTRE FOR HUMAN GENETICS (CHG), BENGALURU biology laboratories with
AND APPLIED BIOTECHNOLOGY The CHG is engaged in advanced research, teaching top-class instruments
(IBAB), BENGALURU and training in areas which lie at the interface of and objective to impart
Established in 2001, IBAB is a joint modern genetics and medicine. Besides research and high quality education to
venture of the Government of teaching, the Centre provides comprehensive clinical the master’s and doctoral
Karnataka and ICICI with a mandate services, including genetic counselling for a range of students through hands-
to help grow the biotech industry. It genetic disorders and inborn errors of metabolism. on research projects
is a matter of pride and satisfaction The Centre has been conducting intensive short-term leading to dissertation.
that with the involvement of leading courses and training programmes in human disease PG Diploma in Plant
academic institutes and industry genetics and molecular cytogenetics which have Genetic Engineering
IBAB has attained high standards in routinely attracted young scientists and clinicians from is now offered under
bioinformatics and biotechnology across the country. With support from the Government Biotechnology
education. The Institute has attained of Karnataka, the Centre provides diagnostic and Skill Enhancement
national and international visibility. genetic counselling services free of cost to BPL Programme (BiSEP) at
http://ibab.ac.in/ families. http://www.chg.res.in/ the Department. KITS
also has established
CENTRE FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH (CBR), UHS, BAGALKOT K-tech Innovation Hub
The CBR has been established at the University of Horticultural Sciences (UHS), Bagalkot to undertake generation at IABT. The Innovation
of genomic resource for advancing the understanding of response of horticulture crops to various stresses, Hub provides access
establishing field germplasm units, conservation of biodiversity of important horticultural crops, advanced to the laboratory and
breeding approaches for Banana, Pomegranate, Garcinia and Tomato crops to hasten the development of infrastructure facilities
varieties that address immediate requirement of farmers and horticulture industry of the State. The centre also such as green house
has incubation suites and common instrumentation facility for promoting entrepreneurship locally. / poly house / land
http://www.uhsbagalkot.edu.in/ for early testing and
field trials as well
NUTRA-PHYTO INCUBATION CENTRE (NPIC), CFTRI, MYSURU as mentorship and
Nutra-Phyto Incubation Centre, established in 2016 with the guidance from faculty
support of KITS, for supporting innovation in the prime area and industry experts
of Nutraceuticals and Phytoceuticals is hosted at the premier to the budding agri
national laboratory Council of Scientific & Industrial Research startups to grow their
(CSIR) -Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), business rapidly and to
Mysuru. At presently it is equipped with a total area of 8436 Sq.Ft. create new processes
The centre has housed sophisticated instruments to support and products that
basic R&D activities. Further extended facilities are available benefit to the farmers,
from host institution in order to access Sophisticated Analytical consumers and society
Instruments Facility (SAIF), Pilot plant services, Shelf-life studies, as a whole. It provides for
Food analysis and so on. http://118.151.209.71/npic/ incubation space land for
undertaking field trials.
https://sites.google.
com/a/uasd.in/iabt/

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2019 | www.biospectrumindia.com

31

How Experts View Karnataka’s Achievements?

“It is all well know that Karnataka is the leader in the Biotech sector
in the country, accounting for 60% of the Industries and 50% of the
revenues. Bengaluru is the only city in India figuring in the global
start-up list. This is because of the support received from Centre and
State and the right eco-system.”

- Prof. G. Padmanaban, NASI Platinum Jubilee Senior Scientist,
Biochemistry Department, Indian Institute of Science (IISc)

“Karnataka is the “That Bengaluru has emerged as India’s dominant cluster in
destination of choice biotechnology should come as no surprise. After all, Bengaluru
for global and domestic (benda-kale-uru) is the original Beantown. Boston, the other
biotech investments Beantown, has done rather well in biotech as well and is ranked as
in India and over 60% the top city in the world for biotechnology. Both beantowns share the
of all biotechnology extraordinary culture of long standing research institutions of high
companies have their caliber in the life sciences. In Bangalore, we have IISc, NCBS, JNCASR,
base in Bengaluru. As NIMHANS, UAS, CHG/IBAB, ISI, IIM & Bangalore University all contributing to an ecosystem
the first state in India to of research, translation and entrepreneurship. This ecosystem is self-organizing for the
come up with a biotech most part but recent additions of incubators and accelerators like C-CAMP, BBC, InnAccel,
policy, Karnataka offers Axilor, EvAccel,... have brought an ease of launching a biotech startup. There is something
extensive intellectual in those beans (Averakai) that makes Beantown Bengaluru special! “
capital in the form of - Dr Vijay Chandru, Chairman and Managing Director, Strand Life Sciences
biotech finishing schools
and R&D centers and “As a leading global provider of advanced analytics, technology
robust infrastructure solutions and contract research services to the life sciences industry,
in the form of sector- IQVIA has a long and special association with the state of Karnataka.
focused SEZs and Our largest Indian operations are based in Bangalore thanks to
dedicated biotechnology the availability of highly skilled data scientists, technology and life
parks. It also promotes sciences talent, as well as access to a well-developed healthcare
education, research ecosystem and supportive policies. We remain committed to
and entrepreneurship partnering with our customers in Karnataka to drive healthcare forward.”
in biotechnology. These
factors have enabled - Amit Mookim, Managing Director, IQVIA – South Asia
the state to contribute
almost half the total “In association with Karnataka Innovation and Technology
revenues generated by Society (K-tech) (formerly known as Karnataka Biotechnology and
the biotechnology sector Information Technology Services), and Bangalore Bioinnovation
in India.” Centre (BBC), we have initiated a one year equity based mentorship
and capacity building program for startups based out of Karnataka,
- Kiran Mazumdar- the Karnataka Startup Advancement Programme (K-SAP) BIO 50.
Shaw, Chairman and The main objective of this programme is to meaningfully engage
and work closely with Karnataka startups to enhance their odds of success and to
Managing Director, enable startups achieve faster traction in their key milestones.”
Biocon - Dr Taslimarif Saiyed, CEO, Centre for Cellular And Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP)

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2019 | www.biospectrumindia.com

BIOTECH POLICY : The earlier policies laid the foundation for an advanced biotechnology ecosystem in Karnataka. The third iteration in Karnataka's biotechnology
policy seeks to provide direction and support for sustainable development of a thriving and world-class biotech ecosystem. This would be achieved by exploring
existing technologies and opportunities; building an elite workforce; strategically shaping the R&D agenda to drive innovations; and using technology to address
pressing social concerns related to agriculture health, energy and environment. The new policy puts emphasis on emerging areas namely Bio Agriculture, Marine
Biotechnology, Rare Disease Management , Synthetic Biology, Omics , Stem cell and regenerative medicine, Antimicrobial Resistance, Bio Engineering, Medical
Devices and Microbiome. It would also offer a framework for developing essential resources and capacities to keep pace with the global biotech revolution with an aim
to capture a major share of the Bio-Economy of ~100 b USD by 2025.

OBJECTIVES

Simplify administrative and clearance processes to create an SLeimveprlaifgyeaIdTmanindisottrhateirvteeacnhdnocloegarya(nEcSeDpMro/cAeVssGeCs)tcoacpraebaitlietiaens

1 enabling environment for the public and private sectors to 51 eonf atbhleinsgtaetnevitroonemnceonutrafogre tdheevepluobplmiceanntdopf rBivioat-eITsteocotlosrsantdo
invest across the biotech value chain. isnovluestitoancsr.oss the biotech value chain.

Realign the academic & training discourses to strengthen and 2 RInesatlitgunttehfeuancdaindgemmicec&htarnaiisnminsgadnisdcomuernsetosrtsohsiptrpenroggtrhaemnmaneds 26
retain human capital to meet evolving industry requirements rfeotrabiniohteucmhasntacratp-uitpasl to smtiemeut leavtoelivninogvinatdiuosntsraynrdeqduisirceomveerniets
and contribute to mitigating challenges. atnhdatcwonoturlidbubteenteofimt tihtiegasoticnigetcyhaanlldenggroews.th of the bioeconomy.

Conduct coordinated and integrated R&D with an emphasis Extending financial incentives and concessions for

3 on facilitating progress beyond the lab to address key 7 attracting investments in the biotech sector.
prioritized societal issues.

Invest in foundations of life sciences by creating technology 4 IFnovsetsetrinthfeoudnedavteiolonpsmoef nlitfeosfcibeinoceecsobnyomcryeatbinygstuepcphonrotloinggy 48
platforms and encourage more effective multi-disciplinary cproelalsltafeboaormrracsthioannasdntodeenxcdpoeaunvradeglteohepmmsocraeelne teafnfd(eRcst&civoDepe) moifunlbtii-oedtmeisccehipnrlgoinlioangrgyy
collaborations to expand the scale and scope of biotechnology atencdhitnsoimlopgaicetso.n the society and economy.
and its impact on the society and economy.

For Information and Assistance, please contact

Principal Secretary to Government Managing Director
Department of Information Technology & Biotechnology Karnataka Innovation & Technology Society
Government of Karnataka BMTC Building, 4th Floor, TTMC B Block
6th Floor, 5th Stage, M.S Building, Bengaluru - 560 001, Shanthinagar, Bengaluru - 560 001, Karnatka India
Karnatka India Ph: +91 - 80 - 2223 0109 / 2223 1006
Ph: +91 - 80 - 2228 0562 / 2226 5943 Email : [email protected]
Email : [email protected]

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2019 | www.biospectrumindia.com COVER STORY 33

WOMEN
ENTREPRENEURS:

TOUGH GETS GOING
During the recent budget announcement,
Interim finance minister Piyush Goyal “Life-science startups have long gestation period
announced that India has become the second- and hence investing community such as VCs, angels
largest hub of startups globally. Although it is a matter etc. does not find them attractive to invest very early
of pride, a gender imbalance scenario here takes away on. Also, the number of mentors are not too many
the joy. India currently houses around 39000 startups as the life science startup ecosystem is fairly young
but less than 10 per cent of these have founders as in India. We certainly need to tap into the available
women. Reports over time have revealed that there network of biotech and life science mentors and make
is gender inequality within the areas of science, it into a structured program to get ideal mentor for
technology, engineering, and medicine (STEM). While each entrepreneur. Such mentoring programs are
women have been entering STEM fields in increasing well organized by The IndUS Entrepreneurs (TIE) for
numbers, there still remain large disparities in specific the tech world. We essentially need to replicate that
sub-fields. Given that these fields are all patent- in biotech sector”, mentions Dr Manjiri Bakre, CEO,
intensive, it follows that female under-representation Oncostem Diagnostics.
is a major determinant of the gender gap in science
and engineering. On the brighter side, women entrepreneurs in
biotechnology are being helped by a combination of
“When seeking to understand the factors that
influence and promote entrepreneurship and Financial Schemes by the government of
innovation, the role of gender is gaining increasing India for women entrepreneurs
importance. A number of studies have applied a
gender-based lens to various measures of innovative  Bharatiya Mahila Bank
activity, such as the participation of women in patent  Stree Shakti
filing. A recent report suggests that at the current rate  Orient Mahila Vikas Yojana Scheme
of progress since 2000, women are not expected to  Udyogini Scheme
achieve parity in patenting until 2092. It is therefore  Mahila Udyam Nidhi Scheme
important to understand the reasons why such  Mudra Yojana Scheme
disparities exist and their impact on innovation, as
well as delineate potential solutions to address these
issues”, points out Prof Chirantan Chatterjee, Indian
Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.

However, the field of biotechnology is developing
in such a way that there are around 33 per cent women
entrepreneurs in this field at present, as compared to
other industries. The reason why women are flocking
into the biotech sector stems from the discrimination
they face in the other fields. Adding to their woes,
women entrepreneurs also face a lot of trouble raising
funds and finding mentorships for their ventures.
Though biotechnology provides the most promising
opportunities for early stage innovation, the flow of
resources intended for the innovation needs constant
consideration, especially for women.

34 COVER STORY BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2019 | www.biospectrumindia.com

Central Government schemes for women To add to these developments, the Karnataka
entrepreneurs in science & technology government has recently launched a Rs 10 crore
fund for women entrepreneurs, through which the
 S&T Scheme for Women- www.dst.gov.in Department of Information Technology, Biotechnology
 Fellowship Scheme for Women Scientists for and Science & Technology can sanction up to Rs 50
lakh for any woman innovator looking for funds for
R&D and S&T Based Societal Interventions proof of concept validation, certification, and for other
(WOS-A/B/C)- www.dst.gov.in purposes such as to cover costs in manufacturing pilot
 National Award for Women’s Development devices.
through Application of Science and
Technology- www.dst.gov.in Not far behind, Government of Telangana has
 Biotechnology Career Advancement and launched Women Entrepreneurship Hub (WE- Hub)
Re-orientation Programme (Bio-CARe) for in Hyderabad last year. WE-Hub is India’s first state-
Women Scientists- http://www.dbtindia.nic.in led incubator exclusively for women entrepreneurs.
 Startup India- https://www.standupmitra.in WE- Hub has also inked an agreement with Atal
 Women Entrepreneurship Platform- incubation centre at the Centre for Cellular and
https://wep.gov.in Molecular Biology (CCMB) to support women-
 Knowledge Involvement Research led biotech startups. In a further boost, Rajasthan
Advancement through Nurturing (KIRAN) government has recently announced setting aside Rs
Programme- www.dst.gov.in 100 crore for Women Startups. Despite such comforts,
 Societal Research Fellowship (SoRF) the entrepreneurship road for women is still bumpy.
Programme for Women Scientists (Disha)- Another major issue faced by women in the scientific
www.dst.gov.in field is sexual harassment. To quote an example,
 SERB Women Excellence Award- few months back a renowned male scientist and
http://www.indiascienceandtechnology.gov.in academician at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc),
Bengaluru was accused by his doctoral student of
government and private initiatives. There are about sexual harassment. Although there are no figures for
10 different schemes charted out by the government sexual harassment in science, the numbers could be
to help women scientists in the field of life sciences high. Unfortunately, this pattern is not just prevalent
take their research ideas further. A perfect example of in academia workplace, it is spreading out everywhere.
this encouragement comes in the form of the Golden
Jubilee Biotech Park for Women in Chennai. It is a On a positive note, a petition was signed by over
joint project of the Government of Tamil Nadu and 165 scientists from India’s leading science institutes
the Department of Biotechnology, government of highlighting the need for blacklisting those accused
India which provided an amount of Rs 4 crore for this of sexual harassment from serving on scientific
venture. Very recently, a women biotech incubator committees, receiving funding, awards and being
was also opened at the Golden Jubilee Biotech Park in elected to academies. And if these issues are not
order to promote women scientists and entrepreneurs. enough, the topmost challenge for women is to strike
a work-personal life balance. This becomes more
Another example is a first of its kind social apparent for an entrepreneur as running a company
national initiative by IIT Delhi and the Department of puts a lot more stress and demands on her. Eventually
Science and Technology (DST), government of India women tend to get socially conditioned to feel guilty
to strengthen women entrepreneurship ecosystem, about not being able to maintain a balance. “We need
called Women Entrepreneurship and Empowerment to see whether policies can be structured to give special
(WEE). encouragement to women entrepreneurs. There are
also scholarships available for women who have taken
Likewise a focused conclave on women scientists a break and there is a mid-career comeback but the real
and entrepreneurs has now become a part of the India question is about the uptake and whether it is really
International Science Festival that intends to promote helping women get on to a career that is meaningful”,
and encourage science education and entrepreneurship says Deepanwita Chattopadhyay, Chairman and CEO
among young women. “The contribution of women of IKP Knowledge Park. While all types of inequality
in science in India is growing tremendously. Women have economic consequences, it is further validated by
scientists can provide an opportunity to make an a recent McKinsey Global Institute report according
important contribution in bridging the gender gap, to which $12 trillion could be added to global GDP by
remove the barrier of negative attitudes; thus, paving 2025 by advancing women’s equality.
the way for fruitful participation of women in science”,
shares Dr Veena Tandon, NASI Senior Scientist, Dr Manbeena Chawala
Lucknow Biotech Park. (With inputs from Prapti Shah and Kalyani Sharma)

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2019 | www.biospectrumindia.com COVER STORY 35

Against all odds, many women have started out ARUNIMA PATEL
their own ventures in the field of life sciences
and related healthcare sectors. BioSpectrum MD, iGenetic Diagnostics (2015)
has compiled profiles of 26 such achievers who Arunima Patel commercially launched iGenetic
have successfully developed startups in the Diagnostics in 2015 with a seed capital of Rs
above mentioned fields in the past 6 years. 10 crore and then raised Rs 9 crore from angel
investors. Arunima got
ANU ACHARYA the biggest round of
funding for her startup
CEO, Mapmygenome (2013) in 2017 when a health
Anu Acharya started her entrepreneurial journey in 2000 care-specific private
and built one of the largest global genomics brand. equity fund constituted
From 2000 until April 2013, Anu was the CEO of Ocimum jointly by CDC Group
Biosolutions which began as a Bioinformatics company and and the Manipal
went on to become a global genomics outsourcing partner Education and Medical
for discovery, development and diagnostics. As part of the Group (MEMG) invested
portfolio, Ocimum Biosolution had an extensive database around Rs 130 crore.
called Bioexpress, which was used by most of the major This boosting worked wonders for Arunima
pharmaceuticals in their drug discovery. However, Anu’s who had started this venture in order to bring
major concern was that the number of Indian samples a difference into the healthcare industry.
as compared to the samples collected abroad were really Working for PE firm Actis after graduating
small, despite the huge population in India. As a result Anu from the Indian Institute of Management
started Mapmygenome in 2013 and introduced the concept Ahmedabad, Arunima was always intrigued by
of improved healthcare through personal genomics in the healthcare sector and soon realized that
India. Mapmygenome currently specialises in lack of organization was the biggest challenge
clinical genomics and molecular diagnostics, facing this sector. Soon after, Arunima resigned
and has teams providing genetic services from Actis and built the idea of iGenetic with
all over India. The startup had raised $1.1 two of her colleagues. iGenetic offers molecular
million in an early financing round in diagnostics services in areas of critical care,
2015 followed by an additional $20 million oncology, gynaecology and infertility with the
in 2016. Anu’s extensive experience prime objective of making testing affordable
is backed by her education at and delivering authentic investigations. Over
premier institutions such as the the time, iGenetic, with 200 employees, has
Indian Institute of Technology at 20 collection centres and two processing labs
Kharagpur (IIT) and University across cities including Mumbai, Hyderabad,
of Illinois where she has two Delhi, Nagpur, Ahmedabad and Bengaluru. In
Postgraduate degrees in the near future, Arunima plans to expand to Sri
Physics and MIS. Lanka, Middle East, and other neighbouring
countries.

DR BHAVANI PV

Co-founder & Chairperson, Pentavalent Biosciences (2015)
After completing her doctorate studies on development of novel molecular diagnostics and
vaccines against infectious diseases from the Defence Food Research Laboratory at Defence
Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in Mysuru, Dr Bhavani PV ventured out
with Pentavalent Biosciences in 2015 along with her partner Dr Soumya Paul. The startup
has its own integrated in-house R&D unit in the campus of Institute of Bioinformatics and
Applied Biotechnology (IBAB), Bengaluru. Pentavalent is focused on developing an innovative
diagnostic tool using novel in-house FlapCut technology that detects tuberculosis (TB) in
patients and helps doctors to prescribe patient-specific antibiotics for treatment. In the initial phases, Dr Bhavani
received Rs 50 lakh financial support from the Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG) launched by the government’s
Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) in partnership with the life sciences technology and
innovation hub, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP). Following that, she received further support
from Karnataka Biotechnology and Information Technology Services for Rs 50 lakh and from FICCI- Millennium
Alliance for Rs 30 lakh. The funds have since then also been used for developing novel vaccines for influenza.

36 COVER STORY BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2019 | www.biospectrumindia.com

DR BINAL DOSHI DR FATHIMA J BENAZIR

Co-Founder, PlexusMD (2014) Co-founder & CEO- Azooka Life Sciences (2015)
Born in a family of doctors, Dr J. Fathima Benazir started her career as a lecturer
medicine seemed to be and is a highly acclaimed scientist. An expert in
Dr Binal Doshi’s obvious microbiology, cell biology and biochemistry, and a
choice of a career but she postdoctoral researcher from the Indian Institute of
chose to be an entrepreneur Science (IISc), Bengaluru, Dr Fathima incorporated
instead. After completing Azooka Life Sciences in 2015. Seed-funded and
her MBBS, she went to IIM- incubated by Society for Innovation and Development, IISc, Bengaluru, the
Kozhikode for her MBA. Dr startup has developed a food-grade nucleic stain called Tinto-Rang which
Binal along with other two is claimed to be the safest and fastest stain in the world market, and it is a
founding members, Rohan first in the scientific world. Tinto rang is a minor groove binding DNA and
Desai and Kinnar Shah RNA stain that is currently replacing biohazardous stain such as Ethidium
saw doctors as a not-so- Bromide in Genomic Research labs and SYBR from Industrial biotech and
well-connected lot when it Diagnostics industry. Patents have also been filed for the stain in India,
comes to networking with Japan, Korea and Europe. However, for Dr Fathima, the financial support
healthcare companies and was a big challenge. She applied for the Biotechnology Ignition Grant
searching for jobs across the twice but got rejected. Her startup partner and an old friend Alex D Paul
country. That led to all three brought in the required funding to begin manufacturing the product. A
of them to launch PlexusMD, major achievement for Dr Fathima came in when her startup got selected
a LinkedIn-like network as the only Indian company as a Breakthrough Finalist in Bio @2017, San
for doctors and healthcare Diego. Currently, Dr Fathima is planning to expand to key markets such
organisations that allows as USA, Europe, Japan and South Korea. However, the primary challenge
doctors to showcase their is protecting the IP and derivate IP related products and breaking into
profile, find jobs and stay Genomics Research and Industrial Biotech markets where Azooka dyes are
connected with hospitals used extensively.
and patients. PlexusMD has
partnerships with medical DR GEETHA MANJUNATH
institutions such as Vaatsalya
Healthcare, Narayana Health, Founder & CEO- NIRAMAI (2016)
Columbia Asia, Thyrocare Dr Geetha Manjunath is the Co-founder and
CEO of NIRAMAI Health Analytix, a Bengaluru
and Vasan Eye Care. It has based startup developing a novel breast
so far listed more cancer screening-solution. The technique
than 500 vacancies called Thermalytix is a computer-aided
and connected diagnosis solution to automate detection
150 doctors with of early stage breast malignancies. Having
recruiters, with more than 25 years of experience in research
50 per cent jobs and innovation, D. Geetha has created many novel-prototypes, patents,
sourced from publications, new-products and has led many innovations in corporate
individual research groups of Xerox Corp and HP Labs. During her corporate career,
nursing she worked on a number of India-centric projects, especially those with a
homes and larger social impact, including in healthcare and transportation. One such
standalone was in using thermal imaging, Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence
hospitals. to screen for breast cancer. When the US company she was working with
The start-up decided to close down all exploratory activities in India, Dr Geetha with
raised an few others decided to quit the company and buy the patent from the US
undisclosed company and start their own venture. At present, Dr Geetha shares her load
amount in with Nidhi Mathur (Co-founder) who plays the role of a Chief Operating
funding Officer (COO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at NIRAMAI. Recently, the
from Patni startup raised $7 million from early-stage investment firms Ankur Capital,
family Axilor Ventures and pi Ventures, as well as from Flipkart co-founder Binny
scion Bansal. Dr Geetha is planning to make NIRAMAI test available in many
Arihant more locations in India other than Bengaluru, Mysore, Hyderabad, Mumbai,
Patni Dehradun and Pune where it is currently operational.
recently.

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2019 | www.biospectrumindia.com COVER STORY 37

GEETHANJALI RADHAKRISHNAN

Founder, Adiuvo Diagnostics (2015)
Geethanjali Radhakrishnan is a biomedical engineer, who worked in research and
then as a software developer at Tata Consultancy Services. After four years, she felt
that her biomedical background would be better utilised to develop solutions for
healthcare problems in India. She founded Adiuvo Diagnostics in 2015 to develop
portable diagnostic devices for skin and soft tissue infections that are
technologically advanced and available at an affordable cost in order
to assist doctors in right diagnosis and medical prescriptions. Due to
the lack of a device or method to quickly identify and differentiate
the pathogen causing the infection at an early stage, generic
antibiotics are prescribed which contribute to antibiotic resistance,
rise of super bugs and increasing healthcare-associated infections.
Keeping this in mind, Geethanjali and her team have developed
Skinscope that can detect any skin infection within few minutes.
Recently, the startup received funding from the early-stage
impact investor Menterra Venture Advisors.

KAVITHA IYER RODRIGUES MADHUBALA RADHAKRISHNAN

CEO, Zumutor Biologics (2015) Founder & President, mCURA (2013)
With an expertise in core Biologics development and With over 20 years of experience in setting
operations Kavitha Iyer Rodrigues started a venture up and heading Techno-Commercial
Theramyt Novobiologics in 2013 in Bengaluru. Aarin Operations, End to End Product
Capital, Accel Partners, IDG Ventures and Karnataka development, IT Infrastructure, Business
state government-backed KITVEN invested Rs.27.5 crores Transformation, Corporate Planning and IT
in the startup focused on combining drug designing Projects across industry verticals in India,
with platform technologies, to generate unique product US, UK and Canada market, Madhubala
lines in oncology, rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular
diseases to begin with. In 2015, Kavitha realized that Radhakrishnan
in the U.S., development of new antibodies and drug conceptualized
therapies was a hot sector. So she took the decision to the idea of
move to the U.S. and renamed Theramyt as Zumutor mCURA in
Biologics that got stationed at Boston eventually. 2013. Her main
After completing executive MBA from Indian Institute objective has
of Management, Bangalore, Kavitha held roles at been to make
healthcare
prestigious biotech houses, such as IT smart by
Biocon and Millipore, including transforming
key posts in R&D, quality control desk to
and process development. mobility
This experience has helped service.
her in becoming an expert Recently, Madhubala introduced India’s
in managing operations first integrated mobility platform, ‘Smart
as a CEO of her startup. OPD’, which ensures minimum counter
Currently, Zumutor has visits, calculates wait time at each counter
two proprietary antibody and provides e-prescriptions. The Smart
engineering platforms OPD ‘Doctor app’ by mCura provides
to develop novel multi-hospital or clinics appointments
immunotherapies in one view, thereby helping in planning
that target time better. With a strong hardware and
innate immunity software infrastructure backing and trained
and regulate staff, Madhubala is set to change things for
the tumour the better in the healthcare IT landscape
microenvironment. through her Gurugram based startup.

38 COVER STORY BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2019 | www.biospectrumindia.com

DR MANREET KAHLON MEENA GANESH

Co-Founder, Chief Operations Officer, MD & CEO, Portea Medical (2013)
IVH SeniorCare (2016) As the MD & CEO, Meena Ganesh heads Portea
The first seed of the IVH SeniorCare was Medical, India’s largest and fastest growing home
sown in the mind of Dr Manreet Kahlon healthcare company, which she co-founded in 2013.
when she came across the family system Prior to establishing Portea, Meena spent about three
decades in industries including healthcare, consulting,
of the defence forces after getting married technology, outsourcing, education and e-commerce.
to a naval officer. Coming from a civilian Up till then, Meena was a promoter and board
family she always wished for similar member of TutorVista, and CEO and MD of Pearson
services for her parents. It took hard Education Services. When in 2011, British publishing
work of around 6 years to transform and education company Pearson PLC bought a
her wish into reality. Swadeep majority stake in it for $213 million, Meena exited the
Srivastava, a seasoned entrepreneur venture soon after. Portea then started off as an at-
in the healthcare domain, joined home post-operative health care provider. But, over
hands with Dr Manreet to establish the last few years, Meena
IVH SeniorCare. Through the has made it evolved to
startup, Dr Manreet aims to provide cater to primary care,
best of services for the elderly chronic care, and
which include home health care, geriatric care as
social assistance, nursing care and well. The startup
other relevant elder care services handles more than
in India. The company was started 1 lakh home visits
with an initial investment of Rs a month across
3.5 crore, and is now looking for 21 cities and has a
a seed funding of $8 million. IVH workforce of about
SeniorCare has presently tied up 4,500 people.
with 100+ NABH hospitals and more than Meena has raised
a total funding of
500 specialist consultants. $72.5 million for
her startup since
MEENU AMRUTHALINGAM its inception.

Founder, Arta Ortho Remedies (2018) NAIYYA SAGGI
Meenu Amruthalingam has been a leather shoe
manufacturer and exporter for the European market CEO & Co-Founder, BabyChakra (2014)
for the last 20 years. Very recently, she focused her Naiyya Saggi, an MBA graduate from Harvard Business
work on the orthopaedic market especially in India. School, founded BabyChakra in 2014 with the thought
She realized that the widespread prevalence of of disrupting the child care sector. The startup offers
Diabetes and Arthritis, a growing segment of obese pregnancy-related tips
and parenting advice, and
people and an increasing acts as a forum for parents
geriatric population in to interact and exchange
India all indicate that information. It currently has
this segment of the two million monthly users
population with special with 70 percent from Tier
needs is growing and II and Tier III towns. Naiyya
that the needs of these has successfully brought
people must be properly her venture to be a part of
addressed. She started the NITI Ayog’s Committee
ARTA Ortho Remedies on Maternal and Child
in 2018, currently Health. Backed by marquee angel and venture funds,
incubated at IIT Madras the startup is also a part of the prestigious Google
Research Park, to develop, design and manufacture Accelerator Programme and has been recognized as a
comfortable yet fashionable custom orthopaedic top 7 innovative startup globally.
footwear integrating customized orthotic insoles
developed with natural materials like cork, jute and
bio-composites using 3D and CAD-CAM technology.

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2019 | www.biospectrumindia.com COVER STORY 39

DR PARUL GANJU POOJA VENKATESH

Co-Founder & Executive Director, Ahammune Biosciences (2016) Co-founder, Next Big
Dr Parul Ganju, a PhD in skin biology, from National Institute Innovation Labs (2016)
of Immunology (NII), New Delhi co-founded Ahammune Incubated at the Bangalore
Biosciences in 2016 in Pune, with Dr. Krishnamurthy Natarajan, Bioinnovation Centre, Next Big
Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi. The Innovation Labs (NBIL) came into
startup is a resident incubatee company of Venture Centre, existence in 2016 when Pooja Venkatesh
National Chemical Laboratory (NCL)’s technology business joined hands with cross-functional
incubator and its R&D laboratory has been recognized by professionals to leverage 3D bioprinting
Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), Govt. technology. After completing her
of India. After completing her doctoral studies in skin disorders, Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology
Dr Parul took a step forward in starting a company focused on and Master’s in Management from Cass
treating a debilitating de-pigmenting disorder called Vitiligo. Business School in London, Pooja’s tryst
A big advantage Dr Parul received after starting her startup with 3D printing began. The startup’s
proprietary printer, Trivima, is set to
was a tax exemption. The startup was granted transform many traditional areas of
a three-year tax holiday by the government medical research and practice, like
in 2016. After winning recognition and bone regeneration, wound healing and
encouragement at several events, Dr Parul new material development. Pooja’s
got a patent licensing agreement signed startup is geared-up to continue
with CSIR-NCL, Pune and CSIR- Institute innovating in 2019, with its soon-to-
of Genomics and Integrative Biology be-launched product, Innoskin, a 3D
(CSIR-IGIB), New Delhi for developing a Bio-oriented skin tissue which can be
drug against vitiligo. Over the time, the used in place of actual human tissue
startup has raised $1 million through in testing activities by FMCG and
angel investors and will go for pharmaceutical companies. NBIL is also
another round of funding soon. Dr working with Mazumdar Shaw Centre
Parul also plans to set up a new for Translational Research to test novel
lab and hire more employees. material composites and patterns for
The startup will soon get its first the development of 3D bio-printed
set of products tested, certified scaffolds for both in-vivo and in-vitro
and launched in all markets. uses. The startup is supported by the
Karnataka state, Central government
PRATYUSHA PAREDDY and Tata Trusts to the tune of Rs 1.25
crore, and is recognised under the
Co-Founder and CEO, Nemo.Care (2017) Startup India and Startup Karnataka
Pratyusha Pareddy started Nemo.Care as a spin-off while Programmes. Pooja is extremely proud
pursuing a fellowship programme at the Centre for Healthcare of the fact that her startup venture has
Entreprenuership, IIT Hyderabad in 2016. During that period, she also been invited by the German Tech
and her colleague Manoj Sanker worked closely in the field of Centre to set up an office in Germany.
neonatology and maternal care, identifying solutions to unmet A lack of understanding about the 3D
needs in the low resource settings all the way up to high end bioprinting technology in India is the
birthing centres and for home settings for continuous monitoring. biggest hindrance facing Pooja right
As a result Nemo.Care came into being in 2017, with the now. Her team intends to work closely
aim to end all preventable neonatal and maternal with the government to understand the
deaths in the developing world. The innovative regulatory approvals required and, also
product Nemocare Raksha is a wearable on help define the compliances.
the newborn that continuously monitors the
necessary vital parameters used to detect Apnea,
Hypothermia and other distress conditions. This
diagnostic tool connects wirelessly to a central
platform which ensures that the nurse can
monitor all the babies simultaneously and
alert when the condition is detected.
Pratyusha is planning to launch a new
product ‘Smart Baby Monitor’ this year.

40 COVER STORY BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2019 | www.biospectrumindia.com

DR PREETHA E RAJASHREE MENON

Co-Founder, ZBliss Technologies (2015) Director & CEO,
After gaining 12 years of experience as a physician working for leading DigiPharmaX (2018)
hospitals in India and Singapore with specific expertise is in Critical With almost two decades
Care and the Emergency Department, Dr Preetha E founded ZBliss of experience in the
Pharmaceuticals and
Technologies in 2015. Incubated at IIT Madras Healthcare industry
Research Park, the startup initiated its spanning MNCs,
operations in 2016. Through her collective transnational organizations,
experience in critical care and in software establishment of innovator
and hardware development and product products, branded generics
strategy, Dr Preetha observed that there and deemed OTC brands,
is a necessity for products and services in Rajashree Menon founded
this space to augment clinical decisions in DigiPharmaX in 2018.
the ICU that will help in better clinical and Through DigiPharmaX,
economic outcomes. Along with her partner Rajashree intends to
Jaykanth S. Kesan, Dr Preetha developed enable Pharmaceutical
an initial hardware product prototype to fetch the data automatically companies to effect a
from medical devices along with a software suite for ICU workflow digital transformation and
automation. Moving on, the team added advanced features such as create impactful Digital
predictive analytics and voice-based interactive query. The team is also Footprints. The startup is
working on adding AI based features for clinical decisions within Critical helping companies chart
Care. Currently, the startup has commercial deployments in leading their Digital story with
hospitals. Dr Preetha is looking forward to serving more hospitals across Ideation, strategy building
India and global markets. & Execution. Recently,
Rajashree conducted India’s
RITU SINGH first Connected Health
Summit in collaboration
CEO, ElaWoman (2016) with PCHAlliance, a HIMSS
In a country like India where infertility is looked upon as a taboo innovation company to bring
and is not openly talked about, Ritu Singh took upon the burden to all the key stake holders
under one roof to develop
bridge this gap by building a transparent patient centric approach by
data-driven community where users can adoption of Digital Health.
access independent and trusted advice and
can connect with specialised experienced
doctors specific to their fertility need. As a
result, Ritu started ElaWoman as a Fertility
and Reproductive healthcare facilitator in
2016. The startup is a data driven fertility
platform which is based on artificial
intelligence (AI) driven doctor-patient
matching algorithm. The algorithm matches
the patient requirements to the doctor specialisation and suggests the
best doctor to the patient based on her past medical history, budget
and treatment needs. Ritu is skilled in Business Planning, Customer
Relationship Management and Market Research that came after
working with multinationals such as Deloitte and Cognizant. Currently,
the startup has partnerships with more than 1265 best Fertility
Centres across India and South- East Asia. Recently, ElaWoman raised
$3 million in a Series A funding round, led by Chiratae Ventures
(Formerly IDG Ventures India) along with co-investor Alkemi Venture
Partners which is an early growth stage fund focused in healthcare
and consumption. Since then, Ritu has been working to improve the
startup’s technology and expand its geographical reach to the non-
metro cities in India. Ritu also plans to expand to international markets
such as Asia Pacific countries.

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2019 | www.biospectrumindia.com COVER STORY 41

DR RUCHI GUPTA

CEO & Founder- 3hcare.in (2016)
Dr Ruchi Gupta started 3hcare.in three years ago with the intent to address the gap
that exists between the healthcare services and healthcare service providers in India.
A doctorate in Risk Management, and a fellow member of the Institute of Chartered
Accountants of India, Dr Ruchi started working towards improving the critical issue
of healthcare accessibility across the country after a personal mis-happening. 3hcare
provides access to labs and hospitals with complete information regarding tests, pricing,
discount, location, etc. The portal allows users to compare and book online treatment
for cancer, heart, spine, orthopaedics, neurology, fertility, gynaecology, organ transplant,
cosmetic surgery, and others. Few months after its establishment in 2016, Dr Ruchi
successfully raised $100,000 from angel investors for her startup venture. Since then, 3hcare has partnered with over
400 diagnostic centres and more than 50 hospitals (both NABL and JCI-accredited) in more than 1,500 locations
across India. Very recently, Dr Ruchi announced expansion of offline footprints of 3hcare throughout tier 3 & 4 cities
by opening labs in Jhajjhar and Kosi. At present, Dr Ruchi is working to bolster and upgrade the startup technology,
especially incorporation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), to provide an enhanced value-
added customer experience.

DR SHAMBHAVI NAIK Founder, CloudKrate (2016) SHILPA MALIK

A PhD in Cancer Biology from University of Leicester, Dr Shambhavi Naik Founder, Bioscan Research (2017)
did her postdoctoral work at the National Centre for Biological Sciences Ahmedabad alone witnesses about
35 road accidents a week, in which
(NCBS) and InStem, Bengaluru. After having an average of five persons lose
worked in both countries i.e. India and UK, Dr their lives. One major reason for the
Shambhavi found that Indian scientists struggle death toll is concussion or brain
to get their lab supplies on time resulting in haemorrhage. The precious time is
inefficient project planning and delays. So she lost when it comes to diagnosing
hypothesized a good inventory management the exact nature of injuries received.
system that would help re-channelize scientists’ Shilpa Malik, a former scientist from
time and came up with an idea of CloudKrate. Defence R&D Organisation of India,
At present, CloudKrate has over 45 laboratories saw an opportunity in this and
working with it and is being utilized by not just founded Bioscan Research along
scientists but also biotechnology entrepreneurs who are setting up new with her husband Anupam Lavania
laboratories. Dr Shambhavi is now focusing on scaling up CloudKrate and in 2017 in Ahmedabad. The start-up
expanding its reach across India over this year. has developed a hand-held scanner
that can detect and pinpoint the
DR SHIKHA SUMAN Founder & CEO, Medimojo (2015) location of a haemorrhage in just
two minutes. Shilpa’s project is being
While tending to her mother in coma, Dr Shikha Suman got a front row supported by IIM Ahmedabad’s
seat of how largely unstructured all of it is and how hospitals tend to have Centre for Innovation Incubation
and Entrepreneurship (CIIE). Shilpa
a tough time maintaining patient records. It was plans to make this device available
in this adversity, that she founded an opportunity commercially at 2 per cent of the cost
to start a health-tech platform Medimojo in so that it can be used in rural areas for
2015. Medimojo is a hyper personalized patient better and early detection.
engagement solution leveraging big data
analytics and AI in healthcare. Built around the
three major variables of quality, affordability
and personalization, it is a B2B SaaS-based
platform which is easy to install. The platform
in collaboration with IBM is making healthcare
extremely personalized for the patients through the usage of cutting edge
tools. Curently, Medimojo has around 1.5 million patient health records
from three live clients and five POCs. A PhD in Technology Management
from IIT Kanpur, Dr Shikha is headstrong towards revolutionizing the
healthcare sector with the help of AI and data analytics.

42 COVER STORY BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2019 | www.biospectrumindia.com

DR SONIA BASU DR SOWMINI KUMARAN

Co-Founder, Healthfin (2016) Founder, ProteoGenie (2017)
A medical doctor by profession, The first exposure to research for Dr Sowmini Kumaran took
Dr Sonia Basu also did an MBA place in 2003 when she joined as a research associate at the
in Healthcare to explore the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru. After gathering
management side of this sector. further research experience from the University of Zurich,
During her career path, Dr Sonia Switzerland and Rutgers
observed that there was no medical University in the US, Dr
finance available easily. The idea of Sowmini put her passion
Healthfin gradually germinated in her to work on the practical
mind and she teamed up with Pervaiz applications of proteins in
Hussain, her school mate and an MBA place. Proteogenie Biotech
in Finance. Thus, the Pune based was incorporated in July 2017.
patient financing platform Healthfin Dr Sowmini joined as a first
came into existence. The startup offers incubatee in Golden Jubilee
financial assistance to patients who Biotech Park for Women
do not have medical insurance or Society, Chennai. Through
those who are under-insured and in ProteoGenie, Dr Sowmini
need of immediate funds for medical seeks to provide cost-effective
procedures. Through its partnerships contract research services in
with various lending institutions, it gene cloning, site-directed mutagenesis, recombinant protein
helps reduce the financial burden production and purification, labelled proteins and bacterial
of hospitalisation by arranging for metabolite biosynthesis to academia, pharmaceutical and
instant patient loans at the hospital biotechnology industries.
itself. Since its inception, the startup
has received about $500,000 worth DR SUDESHNA ADAK
of funding from two VCs, Bangalore-
based accelerator Axilor Ventures and CEO & Director, OmiX Labs (2014)
Sprout Capital. For the future, Dr Sonia An alumnus of Stanford University, and with work experience at
is planning to make the technology GE Healthcare, IBM India Research Lab and Harvard School of
even stronger through more efficient Public Health, Dr Sudeshna Adak launched OmiX Labs in 2014 in
algorithms. Having started from Bengaluru. This step came up right after Dr Sudeshna’s daughter
Pune, Healthfin now has a presence in
Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai. was diagnosed with Urinary
Dr Sonia intends to partner with almost Tract Infection (UTI) at a tender
30-40 hospitals in every city. age of 1 year. But this journey of
starting her own venture had
its own set of challenges since
biotechnology is a sector where
funding does not come easily.
The first round of investment
came through the social
enterprise incubator Villgro
Innovations in the form of Rs 50
lakh for this Bengaluru based
startup. Moving on, the route
became easier for Dr Sudeshna
when she received a Rs 50 lakh financial support from the
Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG) along with a recent funding of
Rs 49 lakh from the Karnataka government under the Idea2PoC
(proof of concept) programme. At OmiX Labs, Dr Sudeshna’s
team has developed a platform technology that is aimed to
diagnose urinary tract infections among others and provide
antibiotic susceptibility in 3 hours instead of 3 days, and is very
easy to use. Currently, in its pre-validation stage, Dr Sudeshna is
planning to launch this year a set of anti-microbial tests.

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2019 | www.biospectrumindia.com SUPPLIER NEWS 43

Beckman Coulter unveils Thermo Fisher
automated microplate to sell anatomy
system for blood testing pathological biz

Beckman Coulter, a global leader in the clinical Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., the world
diagnostics industry, has announced the launch of its leader in serving science, has signed a
next-generation fully automated microplate system for definitive agreement to sell its Anatomical
donor blood testing, the PK7400. Pathology business to PHC Holdings
Designed for use in blood donor Corporation, a global innovator in healthcare
centers, plasma centers and solutions, for approximately $1.14 billion in
large reference laboratories, the cash. The Anatomical Pathology business is
new system offers the industry’s a provider of microscope slides, instruments
highest throughput, processing and consumables. It has approximately 1,200
the greatest volume of samples employees at locations in the U.S., Europe and
for a single analyzer in its class, China. The business generates approximately
up to 300 samples per hour. The $350 million in annual revenue and is part
new PK7400 system also provides of Thermo Fisher’s Specialty Diagnostics
the ability to test multiple assays Segment. Thermo Fisher anticipates closing
in a single batch without affecting the transaction in the second quarter of 2019,
the throughput. The assay menu includes ABO blood subject to customary closing conditions and
grouping, Rh typing, weak D testing, red blood cell antigen applicable regulatory approvals. The company
screening as well as syphilis qualitative screening. Backed expects the net dilution to 2019 adjusted
by Beckman Coulter’s PROService tool, the PK7400 also earnings per share to be approximately
facilitates real-time monitoring that helps to improve $0.10, which will be incorporated into its
laboratory system uptime and reduce service visits. 2019 financial guidance.

44 SUPPLIER NEWS BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2019 | www.biospectrumindia.com

Waters introduces ion-exchange columns for better mAb analysis

Waters Corporation has introduced a new cation the International Conference on Harmonization
exchange column line with specialized consumables for confirming the efficacy and safety of biologics
to simplify and improve the characterization and biosimilars within discovery, development,
and monitoring of monoclonal and manufacturing applications. BioResolve SCX
antibody (mAb) therapeutics. mAb Columns contain an innovative strong-cation
The new BioResolve SCX mAb
Columns and Vanguard FIT exchanger based on a novel polymeric composition,
Cartridge technologies, together hydrophilic coating and multi-component surface
with a suite of complementary
consumables, enable mAb chemistry all synthesized at Waters chemistry
charge-variant analyses as manufacturing facility. The base material
required by the World Health consists of three-micron non-porous
Organization, the U.S. Food particles for optimal diffusion
and Drug Administration, and kinetics, high pressure capability
and compatibility with HPLC,
UHPLC and UPLC methods.

Cole-Parmer launches Agilent opens
its biggest Pharma 3rd CoE in India
Resource Book
Agilent Technologies Inc. has announced the
Cole-Parmer, a leading manufacturer and supplier of opening of a new Centre of Excellence (CoE)
laboratory and industrial products, instrumentation, in Mumbai, India, dedicated to developing
and supplies recently launched its biggest Pharma integrated, end-to-end workflow solutions for
Resource Book 2019-20, dedicated to meet supporting diversified end markets---including
application needs of Pharmaceutical and Biopharma pharma, biopharma, and food testing. The
customers. For biopharma product development, Agilent CoE at Mumbai is the third CoE lab
the pharma resource book addresses the pain areas in India, adding to two already established
of the customers such as compliance, SOP concerns, in Manesar and Bangalore respectively. The
customized solutions, validation support and much CoE in Mumbai is a state-of-the-art laboratory
more, in addition to offering numerous unique and established with the purpose of meeting the
new products, as well as returning favourites, making increasing demand for next generation lean
laboratories, delivering higher productivity,
it the biggest Pharma more efficiency, and providing higher-quality
Resource. Whether it’s data. This new CoE will also enable a strong,
a lab set-up or scale-up, local touch point for Agilent customers in the
the book has everything region to interact with well-qualified subject
pharmaceutical and matter experts, representing Agilent’s entire
biopharma customers portfolio range. The facility is equipped
need—a wide range of with Agilent’s new products, software,
laboratory essentials, and chemistries providing a wide range of
cleanroom & safety application support to life science and applied
products, fluid markets. Agilent has strong focus on skills
handling products, development activities, this CoE will offer
lab equipment, customers comprehensive training and hands-
electrochemistry, test on experience of instruments, lab informatics,
good laboratory practices, and advanced
and measurement, analytical workflows.
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chromatography
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46 SCIENCE NEWS BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2019 | www.biospectrumindia.com

NBRC designs Big Data IIT-D uses
network to study Alzheimer’s
nanoparticles
Researchers at the National Brain Research Centre (NBRC), Manesar,
to manage
have developed a Big Data Analytics framework that will use non-invasive
Parkinson’s
imaging and other test data to look for early diagnostic biomarkers of
A team of scientists from
the Alzheimer’s disease. The data framework, based on open source data the Indian Institute of
Technology, Delhi (IIT-D)
software platform called Hadoop, integrates data from brain scans in the has fabricated disc-
shaped microparticles,
form of non-invasive tests - magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic merely 15 micrometres
in size, made up of
resonance spectroscopy (MRS) as well as neuropsychological test results. two compartments for
carrying dual drugs
The framework deploys data mining, machine learning and statistical without having drug–
drug interactions, for
modeling algorithms. The managing Parkinson’s
disease.
data analytics framework The drug release
efficiency of the
integrates structured microparticles were
tested using different
and unstructured data medium. Two drugs,
levodopa and carbidopa
organization, storage, (in 4: 1 ratio), were
incorporated inside
processing, and is capable the microparticles, one
inside each compartment
of analysing vast volume and studied. The team
found that major release
of complex data. It makes of the drugs took place
in the stomach and
use of data organization, intestine. The drugs get
absorbed in the small
parallel computing, intestine area and then
travel via blood to the
distributed storage blood–brain barrier.
The team is currently
techniques, besides carrying out animal trials
and the results look
machine learning algorithms for fast and scalable data processing. It can promising. Parkinson’s,
which affects the central
classify between healthy old persons, those with mild cognitive impairment nervous system of the
body currently does not
and patients of Alzheimer’s. have an effective cure.
The dopamine deficiency
IIT- Mandi researchers connect caused by the disease can,
malaria drug with Zika virus however, be overcome by
providing drugs which
A group of researchers at The team then screened FDA- are capable of crossing
Indian Institute of Technology approved drugs and identified the blood–brain barrier.
(IIT) Mandi has found a drug five compounds based on their
hydroxychloroquine or HCQ that binding to the active site of the
is already being used for treating enzyme. The malarial drug HCQ
malaria to be effective in inhibiting was one of the five compounds
Zika virus growth and replication. selected.
Since the HCQ drug is already
approved for use in pregnancy,
positive results in human trials
will mean that it can be given to
pregnant women infected with
Zika to reduce the chances of
vertical transmission. As the
Zika virus protease structure is
already available in the literature,
the research team at IIT Mandi
identified the druggable site on
the protease enzyme. The Zika
protease enzyme is a good target
for drug action as inhibition of the
protease stops Zika virus growth.

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2019 | www.biospectrumindia.com SCIENCE NEWS 47

NCNN develops bioactive IIT-D develops
dental filling material
silk protein scaffold
Scientists at the National Centre for Nanoscience and
Nanotechnology (NCNN), University of Madras, have for implants
developed a new technique that promises to help produce
bioactive dental filling materials which will take much Scientists at the Indian Institute of
lesser time Technology, Delhi (IIT-D) have developed
for formation a scaffold made from silk protein fibroin
of new bone and silver nanoparticles that is found to
tissues. The have antimicrobial properties and may
scientific group have application as a biomaterial for
has synthesized implant. Fibroin, a protein derived from
a crystallization silk, helps in developing bone cells from
induced, adult stem cells. This has helped it to gain
strontium-based acceptance for use in tissue engineering.
nano-sized Studies also show potential antibacterial
material using activity of silver nanoparticles.
a simpler sol-gel assisted microwave method. The effect of Although the mechanisms of how silver
crystallization on the product and its reactivity is the main nanoparticles achieve antibacterial effects
focus of the findings. The team claims that compared with are not very well understood, the study
commercially available micron-level materials the newly proposes that silver ions can kill bacteria
synthesized nano-structured materials have a higher rate of by attaching and penetrating their cell
mineralisation of bone apatite, and thus cutting down on the wall or releasing reactive molecules. The
time taken for the formation of new bone tissues. scientists believe that these scaffolds may
be a promising material for bone tissue
engineering.

Form IV (See Rule 8)

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

1. Place of Publication : Pune

2. Periodicity of Publication : Monthly

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

Whether Citizen of India : Yes

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

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

Whether Citizen of India : Yes

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

5. Editor’s Name : Mr. Milind Kokje

Whether Citizen of India : Yes

Address : 133, Kaliandas Udyog Bhavan, Babasaheb Woralikar Marg,
Prabhadevi, Mumbai – 400 025.


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

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

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

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

Sd/-
Publisher

48 ACADEMIC NEWS BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2019 | www.biospectrumindia.com

RGUHS to set up placement THSTI, Dabur to
cells for medical students
develop therapeutics
Bengaluru based Rajiv students pursuing medical
Gandhi University of Health courses at colleges affiliated for NAFLD
Sciences (RGUHS) is setting to the RGUHS will also
up a dedicated placement get an opportunity to visit The Translational Health Science and
cell to help medical students foreign universities as a Technology Institute (THSTI), an
find jobs immediately after part of student exchange autonomous institute of Department
completing their UG course. programme. RGUHS has of Biotechnology (DBT), has signed
Placement drives will soon received requests for student a Memorandum of Understanding
be conducted across the exchange programme from (MoU) with Dabur India Ltd for
country in which private universities across the joint development of herbal extracts
firms will also take part. globe, including top medical as therapeutics for Non Alcoholic
RGUHS will also make universities and hospitals Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD).
efforts to invite medical located in England, Dubai Dabur is a global leader in herbal
industries and hospitals and America. The university extract-based healthcare business.
abroad to take part in the will be signing MoUs with THSTI has strong expertise in Drug
placement activities for Higher Education England Discovery and Development. Both the
the benefit of the young (HEE), Dubai University and collaborators bring complementary
graduates. Apart from this, others in near future. skills for Herbal Extract based drug
discovery & development. This is an
Academia-Industry collaboration, in
tune with joint efforts of DBT with
AYUSH for herbal extraction based
therapeutic development. The MoU
was signed in the presence of officials
from both THSTI and Dabur India
Ltd including Prof. Gagandeep Kang
(Executive Director) and Dr Madhu
Dikshit (THSTI National Chair).

Omega Healthcare collaborates with IIIT-Bengaluru

Omega Healthcare Management business-related processes along the programme being collectively
Services has signed a with expected outcomes, with decided by both the organizations.
Memorandum of Understanding According to Omega Healthcare,
(MoU) with International this association will augment its
Institute of Information position as an active adopter of
Technology Bengaluru (IIIT-B) technology and solutions in the
to boost research in the field of healthcare space. This MoU will
Data Science, a field of Artificial also help IIIT-B students to build
Intelligence (AI). The agreement on their technical proficiency
will comprise of research in AI and Data Science and
programmes in AI and Data develop advanced solutions and
Science, aiming to focus on specific applications.

BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2019 | www.biospectrumindia.com PEOPLE NEWS 49

BioAsia 2019 to felicitate Agilent to bring
Dr Soumya Swaminathan Mala Anand on Board

BioAsia, the annual global life sciences confluence hosted Agilent Technologies, Inc. has recently
by the Government of Telangana, India has announced that announced that Mala Anand, president,
the prestigious Genome Valley Excellence Award for the Intelligent
16th Edition the event will be conferred upon Dr Soumya Enterprise
Swaminathan, Deputy Director General of Programmes, Solutions
World Health Organization (WHO). Dr Swaminathan, who and
is the first Indian to be appointed to the second highest Industries
position in the World Health Organization, is acknowledged has been
for her excellence in Biomedical research. The award will elected to
be presented during the inauguration ceremony of BioAsia its board of
2019, which is scheduled to begin from February 25, 2019 directors,
at HICC, Hyderabad, India. Globally acclaimed for her effective
research in tuberculosis, she served as the director of the March 20,
2019. Mala
National Institute for Research serves as
in Tuberculosis, Chennai. President,
Further, she was a part of Intelligent
several global advisory Enterprise
bodies and committees, Solutions and Industries at SAP since
which include the WHO October 2016. Prior to that, she served
expert panel to review as the Senior Vice President, Data &
global strategy and plan Analytics and Automation Software
of action on public health, Platform group at Cisco Systems, Inc.
innovation and intellectual from 2007 to 2016. She has over 20 years
property, the strategic and of experience leading products and go-to-
technical advisory group of market for enterprise-focused software
companies. Mala has deep expertise in
the global TB department at the data analytics and automation platforms
WHO. In recognition of her (real-time analytics, machine-learning,
expertise, she served as cloud platforms and distributed
the co-chair of the Lancet computing).
Commission on TB.

Narayana Hrudayalaya announces new appointments

The Board of Narayana been part of the founding team
Hrudayalaya (NH) has at NH. He started his career
recently announced that Dr with NH as Sr Consultant in
Ashutosh Raghuvanshi, VC, Cardiac Anaesthesiology and
MD and Group CEO of NH, has Intensive Care in the year
tendered his resignation from 2000. Dr Rupert has served as
the services of the company. the Group Director - Medical
Dr Raghuvanshi has decided Services since August 2018.
to move on from NH on Also, Viren Shetty has been
personal grounds, after serving appointed Group COO of the
the company for 18 years. company. Shetty, an MBA from
Following this, Dr Emmanuel Stanford Business School,
Rupert has been appointed has been on the Board of the
MD & Group CEO, to take company in the capacity of an
over from Dr Raghuvanshi. Dr Executive Director, and has
Rupert has been associated been Sr VP – Strategy since
with NH since 2000 and has 2012.

50 BIO EVENT BIOSPECTRUM | MARCH 2019 | www.biospectrumindia.com

HEALTH TECH INDIA, 2019

“Technological Innovations in
Healthcare need to be backed
by a Robust Policy Framework”

“Technology has become the backbone for (L-R) Kenji Hiramatsu, Ambassador of Japan to India; Dr
Ayushman Bharat by making the entire Indu Bhushan, CEO, Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan
system cashless and paperless. With over Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) and National Health Authority (NHA);
50 crore population coming under the purview of Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family
healthcare, technology is going to become an even Welfare, Govt of India; Himanshu Baid, Chairman, CII Medical
bigger market in healthcare,” said Dr Indu Bhushan, Technology Division & Managing Director, Polymedicure
CEO, Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Ltd at the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of Health Tech 2019
AarogyaYojana (AB-PMJAY) and National Health (concurrently with IETF) on 4 February, 2019 at New Delhi.
Agency (NHA).
Business Opportunities
Speaking at the 2nd Health Tech India, 2019, Dr
Bhushan also cautioned that technology would cost Healthcare has become one of India’s largest
money and therefore, both healthcare providers and sectors both in terms of revenue & employment.
other stakeholders should be prepared to balance The industry is growing at a tremendous pace
this high cost as financial allocation would be needed. owing to its strengthening coverage, services and
“Technological Innovations in Healthcare need to be increasing expenditure by public as well private
backed by a Robust Policy Framework”, he emphasized. players.

The 2nd edition of Health Tech India, under The Indian healthcare sector is expected
23rd International Engineering and Trade Fairs was to increase from $ 110 billion in 2022. Rising
held from February 3-5, 2019 in Pragati Maidan by income level, greater health awareness, increased
Confederation of India Industry. precedence of lifestyle disease and improved access
to insurance would be the key contributors to
Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health growth 58,000 job opportunities are expected to be
and Family Welfare, speaking at Health Tech India, greater in the healthcare sector by the year 2025.
highlighted that the focus of Indian healthcare over
the years has changed from being curative to slowly The hospital industry in India stood at 4 trillion
becoming preventive which has also led to an increase ($ 61.79 billion) in 2017 and is expected to reach
in scope for innovation. “The beneficial aspects of Rs 8.6 trillion ($ 132.84 billion) by 2023. India’s
technology in India, lie in the fact that, in a country healthcare market may see threefold jump in value
like India, it can overcome geographical and financial terms to $ 372 billion by 2022, driven by growing
barriers to reach those who actually need it” he added. incidence of lifestyle diseases and rising demand for
affordable healthcare delivery systems.
Kenji Hiramatsu, Ambassador of Japan to India,
speaking at the inaugural session, brought to light accessible. Health Tech India, 2019, provided a platform
some of the factors on which high life expectancy to showcase latest and innovation in the healthcare
in Japan (women=86 years and men=81years) is product and service, Medical devices & Technology,
dependent upon; they are efficient management of Diagnostic, Lab, Pharma, Wellness, in a nutshell the
skills and logistics in the medical device sector, well- Healthcare Industry. The event was supported Ministry
trained doctors and nurses and the commitment of the of External Affairs, Health and Family Welfare, Ayush
government to Universal Health Coverage. Japan is and other Government Ministries.
the partner country for the second consecutive edition
of the event. Hiramatsu expressed full support of his
country in collaborating with India to take the agenda
of health technology forward.

Shobana Kamineni, Immediate Past President,
CII & Executive Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals
Enterprise Limited emphasized on the importance
of frugal health technology that is going to make
high quality healthcare services both affordable and