Lok Sabha Question No. 335 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-21
Subject: Research and Development in Pharmaceutical Sector
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Sunil Kumar Singh, Ranjeeta Koli, Sumedhanand Saraswati, Manoj Rajoria

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 335 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 21 ST July, 2023

## Research and Development in Pharmaceutical Sector

†335.   SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH: SHRIMATI RANJEETA KOLI: SHRI SUMEDHANAND SARASWATI: DR. MANOJ RAJORIA:

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

- (a)  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  for  promotion  of  research  and  development  in pharmaceutical sector of the country during the last five years, year-wise;
- (b) the positive outcomes achieved therefrom;
- (c) whether steps have been taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to promote the involvement of the private sector in research and development in pharmaceutical sector; and (d) if so, the details thereof along with the outcome of public and private participation in the said sector?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS (SHRI BHAGWANTH KHUBA)

(a) to (d):   Research and Development (R&D) in pharma sector is undertaken by number of institutions and organizations under various ministries/ departments. As part of its mandate, the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) has set up seven National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education & Research (NIPERs) as institutes of national importance to nurture and promote quality and excellence in pharmaceutical education and research in India.  The Government announced in Budget 2023-24 about a new programme to promote research and innovation in pharmaceuticals to be taken up through centres of excellence and to encourage industry to invest in research and development in specific priority areas.  A scheme has been prepared by the department in line with this announcement and is under appraisal.

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) through its constituent laboratories has been pursuing R&D activities for drug discovery and development. CSIRCDRI has built a unique model for drug research in India - having everything under one roof, from synthesis, screening, development studies, process up-scaling to clinical studies for the development of drugs. CSIR has successfully developed numerous medicines and transferred them to various pharmaceutical companies.

Department of Biotechnology (DBT), along with its Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) has facilitated the implementation of R&D projects for drug discovery in the areas of Tuberculosis (TB), AntiMicrobial  Resistance  (AMR),  Diabetes,  Cancer,  Rare  Diseases,  etc.,  through  its  regular schemes, including the  Biotechnology  Ignition  Grant,  Small  Business  Innovation  Research Initiative, Biotechnology Industry Partnership Programme,  and  the  Social Innovation Programme  for  Products:  Affordable  &  Relevant  to  Societal  Health.  It  also  supports  bioincubation centers in the pharmaceutical sector through the Bioincubators Nurturing Entrepreneurship for Scaling Technologies (BioNEST) and Empowering Youth for Undertaking Value Added Innovative Translational Research (EYUVA) schemes. Over the past five years, 17 pharmaceutical products or technologies have been developed, transferred, or commercialized under these schemes.

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