Lok Sabha Question No. 3443 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-13
Subject: National Biopharma Mission
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Naranbhai Bhikhabhai Kachhadiya, Shantanu Thakur, Gitaben Vajesingbhai Rathva, Pradeep Kumar Singh, Jaswantsinh Sumanbhai Bhabhor, Parbatbhai Savabhai Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3443 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.03.2020

## NATIONAL BIOPHARMA MISSION

3443 SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA: SHRI SHANTANU THAKUR: SHRIMATI RATHVA GITABEN VAJESINGHBHAI: SHRI PRADEEP KUMAR SINGH: SHRI JASWANT SINGH BHABHOR: SHRI PARBATBHAI SAVABHAI PATEL:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND  TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- (a) the  manner  in  which  'National  Biopharma  Mission'  is  being  implemented  to achieve the Government's objective of promoting entrepreneurship and indigenous manufacturing;
- (b) whether innovation is being promoted in India for inclusiveness; and
- (c) if so, the points on which this mission focuses?

## ANSWER

## HON'BLE UNION MINISTER FOR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, EARTH SCIENCES AND HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE

## (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

- (a) The National Biopharma Mission (NBM) is an industry-Academia Collaborative Mission for accelerating biopharmaceutical development in the country. Under this Mission the Government has launched Innovate in India (i3) programme to create  an  enabling  ecosystem  to  promote  entrepreneurship  and  indigenous manufacturing in the sector. The mission will be implemented by Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC). The mission was approved in 2017 at a total cost of Rs 1500 crore and is 50% co-funded by World Bank loan. It is managed through a dedicated Program Management Unit (PMU) at BIRAC. Together with  National and International experts, the  most promising projects are selected in response to open Request for Applications issued by the PMU. The  oversight  to  the  mission  activities  is  provided  by  the  inter-ministerial Steering  Committee  chaired  by  the  Secretary-DBT.  The  Technical  Advisory Group (TAG) provides approval and reviews scientific progress of its components. Further  downstream, domain  specific Scientific  Advisory Groups

(SAG), each for the activities/ product development partnerships, are responsible for providing scientific decision  making and knowledge  and oversight necessary for TAG.

The  program  is  promoting  entrepreneurship  by  supporting  small  and  medium enterprises  for  indigenous  product  development  (Novel  Cell  lines,  indigenously developed Biologics, devices and Raw materials for Biologics manufacturing) and through establishment of shared facilities and Technology Transfer Offices.

(b) & (c) Yes, innovation is being promoted in India for inclusiveness.

This scientifically driven enterprise aims at developing an ecosystem for affordable product development and is focused on the following 4 verticals :

## 1. Development  of  product  leads  for  Vaccines  ,  Biosimilars  and  Medical Devices that are relevant to the public health need by focussing on managed partnerships.

Presently  the  mission  is  supporting  the  development  of  candidate  vaccines  for Cholera, Influenza, Dengue, Chikungunya and Pneumococcal disease;  Biosimilar products  for  Diabetes,  Psoriasis,  emergency  situations  &  Oncology  and  08 products  for  development  of  MedTech  Devices  for  Imaging,  Pumps  for  dialysis, MRI and Molecular Biology devices.

## 2. Upgradation of shared infrastructure facilities and establishing them as centres of product discovery/discovery validations and manufacturing.

Support  is  being  extended  by  the  Mission  for  establishing  shared  facilities.  15 facilities  have  been  funded  for  -  Biopharmaceuticals  development  (7),  MedTech device development (6) and Vaccine Development (2).

3. Develop  human  capital  by  providing  specific  trainings to  address  the critical  skills  gap  among  the  nascent  biotech  companies  across  the  product development  value  chain  in  areas  such  as  Product  development,  intellectual property registration, technology transfer and regulatory standards.

4. Technology  Transfer  Offices: To  help  enhance  industry  academia  interlinkages and  provide increased opportunities for academia, innovators  and entrepreneurs to translate knowledge into products and technologies , 5 Technology Transfer Offices are being considered for funding under NBM.