Lok Sabha Question No. 299 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-19
Subject: Conference in NIPER
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Raksha Nikhil Khadse

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACEUTICALS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 299

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 19 th  NOVEMBER, 2019

## Conference in NIPER

## 299: SHRIMATI RAKSHA NIKHIL KHADSE

Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZAERS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  details  regarding  the  international  conference  on  Neurological  disorders  & Therapeutics organized at National Institute of Pharmaceuticals Education & Research (NIPER)  recently  to  explore  &  encourage  approaches  to  stimulate  new  ideas  for research  &  treatment  in  this  spectrum,  as  in  the  recent  scenario,  India  is  the  largest exporter of generic drugs globally;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  is  taking  steps  to  establish  world  class  research  & development  facilities  in  the  country  so  as  to  make  the  country  the  topmost  drug discovery & innovation hub in the world; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS (SHRI D. V. SADANANDA GOWDA)

- (a) Sir, The International conference on Neurodegenerative Diseases and Therapeutics  (ICNDT)  was  organized  by  the  National  Institute  of  Pharmaceuticals Education & Research (NIPER) Ahmedabad  from 24 th -26 th October 2019 at Gandhinagar,  Gujarat.  About  32  world  renowned  national  and  international  scientists delivered  plenary  and  keynote  talks  in  the  conference.  The  international  conference brought  neuroscientists,  clinicians  and  basic  researchers  from  renowned  institutes  of the world on the same platform to discuss the problems related to neurodegenerative diseases  and  its  potential  therapies.  The  Conference  also  opened  avenues  for  the Institutes in the country to establish future research collaboration with world renowned universities.  It  also  opened  a  window  for  national  and  international  scientists  to  work together in collaboration towards innovative research in neuroscience.
- (b) & (c) The details are given at Annexure.

## Annexure referred to in part (c) and (d) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 299 for  reply  on  19 th November  2019  regarding  'Conference  in  NIPER'  raised  by Shrimati Raksha Nikhil Khadse

The  details  of  various  steps  taken  by  the  Government  of  India  to  establish pharmaceutical research and development facilities in the country are as following:

- (i) The Department of Pharmaceuticals has established seven National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education & Research (NIPERs) at Mohali, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad,  Guwahati,  Kolkata,  Raebareli  and  Hajipur  to  promote  basic  and applied  research  catering  to  the  needs  of  pharma  industry.  These  Institutes impart postgraduate and PhD education in various specialization of pharmaceuticals. Further, these NIPERs carryout research in the areas of New Drug Discovery and Drug Development in various therapeutic areas.
- (ii) The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) under the Department of Science & Technology supports drug research through state-of-the-art infrastructure and facilities at its constituent laboratories like CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute  (CSIR-CDRI),  CSIR-Indian  Institute  of  Chemical  Technology (CSIR-IICT),  CSIR-Institute  of  Microbial  Technology  (CSIR-IMTECH),  CSIRIndian Institute of Toxicology Research, etc. The laboratories are pursuing drugs and pharmaceutical Research and Development activities with an emphasis on affordable healthcare.
- (iii) The  Department  of  Science  and  Technology  (DST),  under  the  Drugs  and Pharmaceuticals Research Programme (DPRP), supports projects for creation of facilities where leading academic institutions/national laboratories having scientific  expertise  can  cater  to  the  needs  of  Pharma  Industries.  Under  this programme,  specialized  structures  like  cold  rooms,  animal  house  isolation chambers, etc. can be created. Under this programme up to 2018-19, 55 state-ofthe-art  infrastructure  facilities  for  Pharmaceutical  Research  and  Development have  been  created  indifferent  premier  institutions  and  Universities,  including Facilities for Bioavailability, Pharmacoinformatics, Regulatory Toxicology, Safety  Pharmacology  at  NIPER,  Mohali;  Pharmacokinetic  &  Metabolic  Studies, Regulatory Pharmacology & Toxicology, Medium Throughput Screening at CDRI, Lucknow; Transgenic & Gene Knockout Mice, Clinical Research facility to Stem Cell  Technologies  and  regenerative  medicine,  Biosafety  Laboratory  at  CCMB, Hyderabad  and  Bioequivalence,  Pharmacovigilance,  New  Chemical  Entities development, Animal Facilities for Indian Systems of Medicine in other Universities & Institutions.
- (iv) To  strengthen  research  facilities  for  drug  development,  the  Indian  Council  of Medical  Research  (ICMR)  under  the  Department  of  Health  Research  has identified  the  Product  Development  Centres  at  PGIMER-Chandigarh,  CDRILucknow, Nizam  Institute-Hyderabad, Seth G.S. Medical  Collage  &  KEM Hospital-Mumbai and AIIMS-Delhi. These centres will evaluate potential products

developed by ICMR funded projects in colleges/ICMR centres/centre for advance research. The Centres carry out clinical trials for developing national guidelines/ programs, for new drugs e.g. phytopharmaceuticals.

- (v) The  Department  of  Biotechnology  (DBT),  towards  strengthening  the  product development  for  Biopharmaceuticals,  has  initiated  a  Mission  entitled:  IndustryAcademia  Collaborative  Mission  for  Accelerating  Discovery  Research  to  Early Development for Biopharmaceuticals-'Innovate in India (i3) Empowering biotech entrepreneurs  &  accelerating  inclusive  innovation'.  The  National  Biopharma Mission approved by the Cabinet at a total cost of US$ 250 million for five years with 50% funding through World Bank loan is being implemented by Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) - a Public Sector Undertaking of Department of Biotechnology (DBT). The Mission is focusing on development of  (i)  Vaccines  for  Pneumococcus,  Dengue,  HPV  and  candidates for other diseases of high burden in India (ii) Biosimilars for cancer, diabetics and rheumatoid  arthritis  and  (iii)  Medical  devices  and  diagnostics  (iv)  Process Development  Laboratory;  Chemistry,  Manufacturing,  Control  Units  and  CGLP validation facility for Bio therapeutics.

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