challenges ,” says Prof . Soma Rohatgi , BSBE Dept , IIT Roorkee who is currently working on fungal , viral and bacterial vaccines .
Going forward , promoting and facilitating more industryacademia partnerships with global organizations such as GAVI and Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations ( CEPI ) could help in sustaining the momentum . Setting up consortiums between clinical and research institutes will facilitate ease of conducting clinical trials . Expedited regulatory approvals under restricted use in emergency situations concerning public health emergencies would also be beneficial .
Sector Outlook
The pandemic has pushed the governments across the globe to improve access of healthcare facilities to its citizens . The changes in geopolitical and economic outlook are now driving Indian self-sufficiency agenda and recalibrating the business models of vaccine companies .
While the biggest strength of the Indian vaccine industry remains its quality and affordability , a few challenges include the high cost of
storage and transportation , stringent regulations , and drugdevelopment hurdles . It is highly expected from the government to create a centralized mechanism to address the concerns of vaccine players besides special attention to promoting startups in the space .
“ Although preventive vaccines are necessary for protection against
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INDIA ’ S VACCINE INDUSTRY MARCHES ON ...
STRENGTHS
• Skilled scientific workforce
• Favorable policies
• Collaborative R & D
• Credible vaccine players
OPPORTUNITIES
• Growing global demand
• Unattended disease areas
• Bridging affordability gap
• Innovative technologies
Covid-19 saw a continued growth in research in the biotech sector , including development of indigenous vaccines & high investments .
Aditya Sharma , Head of Bioprocessing , Merck India
WEAKNESSES
• Lack of enough funding
• Costly ingredients
• Regulatory hiccups
• Long incubation time
THREATS
• Fear mongering
• Long-term side effects
• Substandard vaccines
• Distribution challenges
future pandemics ; however , in immune-compromised individuals passive transfer of ready-made life-saving antibodies would be helpful . Therefore , more research should be conducted on alternative therapies such as monoclonal antibody-based therapies ,” says Prof . Soma Rohatgi who believes that moving towards new vaccine platforms , and strengthening the cold chain infrastructure in remote hospitals is the way for the future .
Given the enhanced capabilities across resources , innovative platforms and infrastructure , no doubt India will soon dominate the global vaccine landscape . The focus on neglected tropical diseases like malaria , tuberculosis , and dengue could make our industry much sought after across the globe .
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BioVoiceNews | October 2022