Lok Sabha Question No. 1938 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-11
Subject: Development of  Indigenous Antibiotics
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Dr. Raj Kumar Chabbewal

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1938

ANSWERED on 11/02/2026

## DEVELOPMENT OF INDIGENOUS ANTIBIOTICS

## 1938. Dr. Raj Kumar Chabbewal:

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

- (a) whether it is a fact that country has developed the first indigenously discovered antibiotic and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government is taking any other measures towards the development of more such indigenous  antibiotics  in  the  country  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the  reasons therefor; and
- (c) the details of the benefits likely to accrue to the people of the country due to the development of these indigenous antibiotics?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY & EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

- (a) Yes,  Nafithromycin  has  been  developed  by  the  Wockhardt  group.  It  is  a  novel  macrolide specifically designed for the treatment of Community Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia (CABP). The phase III clinical study of Nafithromycin in India was supported in-part by Biotechnology Industry  Research  Assistance  council  (BIRAC),  a  not-for-profit,  Section  8,  Public  Sector Enterprise  of  the  Department  of  Biotechnology  (DBT).  Central  Drugs  Standard  Control Organisation (CDSCO) has issued marketing authorization permission for sale and distribution of Nafithromycin Tablets 400 mg, for the treatment of adults (≥18 years) with CABP, to M/s Wockhardt Limited.
- (b) The Government is supporting research &development and innovation to promote indigenous discovery  and development of  antibiotics through structured funding and ecosystem support. The  Government  support  spans  the  research  and  development  continuum  from  early  stage research&  development,  initial  validation  andcommercialization  of  products.  Specific  efforts are as follows:
-  The  Department  of  Biotechnology  in  collaboration  with  World  Health  Organization  country office  has  developed  an  Indian  Priority  Pathogen  list  to  guide  research,  discovery  and development of new antibiotics in India.
-  The  Department  of  Biotechnology  through  its  'Biotechnology  Research  Innovation  and Entrepreneurship Development (BioRIDE)' scheme is supportingR&D projects for advancement of anti-microbial therapeutics, antibiotic combinations, efficacy studies as well as drug  repurposing  studies  for  pathogens  such  as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli .
-  The  Department  of  Pharmaceuticals  through  its  'Promotion  of  Research  and  Innovation  in Pharma-MedTech Sector (PRIP)' scheme is supporting the development and validation of new medicines.
-  Department  of  Science  &  Technology  has  taken  an  initiative  for  the  development  of  small chemical molecules naturally or synthetically for combating Anti Microbial Resistance (AMR).
-  Council  of  Scientific  &  Industrial  Research  -Central  Drug  Research  Institute  (CSIR-CDRI), Lucknow is implementing various projects for antibiotic discovery.
- (c) Development of indigenous  antibiotics  will  strengthen  national  capacity  to  combat  AMR  by improving the ability to treat hard to treat/ drug resistant infections, improve access to effective and affordable treatments, enhance self reliance and improve public health outcomes. This will also reinforce domestic research and manufacturing.

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