Lok Sabha Question No. 2268 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-23
Subject: National Biopharma Mission
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Ravi Kishan Shukla, Nayab Singh, Gajendra Singh Patel, John Barla

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.  2268 TO BE ANSWERED ON    23/09/2020

## National Biopharma Mission

†2268. SHRI RAVI KISHAN:

SHRI NAYAB SINGH:

SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH PATEL:

SHRI JOHN BARLA:

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

(a)  the details of the aims and objectives and the goals set by the Government under National Biopharma Mission (NBM);

(b)  the details of the efforts being made by the Government under NBM for promoting entrepreneurship and indigenous manufacturing;

- (c)  the  manner  in  which  the  Government  is  boosting  innovation  in  the  country  to attain inclusivity; and
- (d)  whether any projects/activities are also being undertaken under NBM in Haryana, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE; MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; AND MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

- (a) The National Biopharma Mission  was approved by the Cabinet in 2017 with  an aim  to  transform  the  health  standards  of  the  country  through  affordable  product development and bring 5-7 biopharmaceutical products closer to market.

Objectives  and  goals  of  the  Mission  are  a)  Specific  Product  development  under vaccines,  biosimilars  and  medical  devices  b)  Building  shared  infrastructure  for product testing, characterization and manufacturing c) Promoting scientific research through establishment of translational research consortia and development of novel biopharmaceuticals  and  devices  d)  skill  development  though  trainings    e)  creating and enhancing technology transfer and intellectual property management.

(b) The  Mission  is  supporting  small  and  medium  enterprises  for  biopharmaceutical product  development,  enhancing  industry  academia  interlinkages  and  providing opportunities to translate knowledge into products/technologies for vaccines, biotherapeutics, devices and diagnostics. The indigenous manufacturing is promoted through  the  supported  shared  facilities  for  process  optimization,  clinical  grade manufacturing  of  Biologics,  Analytical  testing  labs,  cell  line  repository,  prototyping facilities, large animal testing facilities and medTech zone for manufacturing devices and diagnostics at large scale. These high capital facilities provide easy access to equipment and infrastructure thus encouraging indigenous manufacturing. Technology  transfer  offices  have  been  established  to  support  technology  transfer and support entrepreneurship.

(c) Financial and mentorship support has been provided to industry and academia for indigenous product development. This includes projects on development of components of upstream and downstream biologics manufacturing, such as engineered cell lines, media, resins and bioreactors which are currently in-licensed, requiring huge capital. To boost innovation, Mission is also supporting development of novel  biologics, novel  vaccines  and  medical  devices  like  MRI,  ventilators, diagnostic probes and Medical grade camera.

(d) Five projects are being supported in Haryana, 3 projects in Faridabad district (for Medical Device and Translational Research Consortia) and 2 in Gurgaon district (for Medical device and Clinical Trial network).