Latest news with #BioE3
Hindustan Times
26-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
BioNext: Generics to biologics, India's moment to lead
Picture this: A cancer patient in a district hospital, once sent abroad for care, now begins treatment with cell therapy—developed and produced just a few hours away, in a domestic biomanufacturing facility. No loud declarations, no sweeping claims--just the quiet signal of a new capability taking root, as India steadily builds a biomanufacturing future from the ground up. India's strength in pharmaceuticals is well known--but what's unfolding now goes beyond low-cost generics and vaccines. With promising advances like the recent approval of India's first indigenous CAR-T cell therapy and successful early-stage gene therapy trials for haemophilia, India is carving out a leadership role on the global stage of biologics. But seizing this opportunity is not guaranteed. It depends on how we build the path ahead. India has the ingredients—future-ready talent base, manufacturing infrastructure, and supportive government initiatives like the Production Linked Incentives and the BioE3 policy. These have laid the foundation, but rising as a leader will demand more: coordination, bold investment, and a focus on capabilities that secure long-term advantage. What could make the difference? First, shaping leadership on two interconnected fronts will be essential: building capacity for next-generation biologic modalities and securing access to the inputs that power them. These biologics--such as cell and gene therapies, monoclonal antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, and nucleic acid-based treatments--depend on a precise, fast-evolving suite of components. These include everything from expression vectors and viral plasmids to single-use bioprocess components, engineered cell lines, chemical delivery systems, chromatography resins, cytokines, custom enzymes, and purification reagents. A missing reagent or delayed shipment doesn't just slow down a process; it can ground an entire production line. Building production capacity of these inputs—especially near biomanufacturing hubs--will be key to ensuring supply security, operational resilience, lower costs, and faster development timelines. It also advances national self-reliance and positions India as a promising friend-shoring destination for global partners away from high-risk geographies. Second, every stride in biomanufacturing hinges on infrastructure built to enable it. Modular, purpose-built GMP facilities form the backbone of biologics and reagent production. When infrastructure opens its doors, ideas move faster, risks shrink, and the entire biomanufacturing ecosystem grows stronger. Third, new era of biomanufacturing is taking shape—driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), robotics, and automation. At its core are large biological language models (LBLMs) reshaping how we engineer biology. Trained on vast biological and process-specific datasets, these AI models and tools are accelerating discovery and transforming bioprocessing—from identifying drug targets and designing novel proteins to optimising leads and streamlining workflows for more scalable, reliable, and error-free production. Fourth, talent will be the X-factor—biomanufacturing's future turns on a specialised workforce trained at the intersection of engineering biology, synthetic biology, bioprocessing, and AI, ML and LBLM. Finally, as advances in engineering biology, synthetic biology, and AI redefine how biologics are discovered, developed, and produced, regulatory systems must evolve too. An agile framework that keeps pace with scientific progress--while aligning with global standards for safety, quality and reliability--can accelerate innovation cycles, increase trust in products, and strengthen the global competitiveness of the biomanufacturing ecosystem. How do we take the lead? Advance and expand future-ready biomanufacturing platforms by supporting both the development of new purpose-built modular facilities and the repurposing of existing biopharma infrastructure through phased adaptation of suitable components. These facilities should function as shared public-private platforms—ensuring sustainability and broad access for start-ups, Contract Development and Manufacturing Organisations (CDMOs), transitioning biomanufacturers, and entrepreneurs relocating operations. Localise supply chains by establishing domestic production capacity for critical reagents and materials within priority manufacturing zones, while incentivising biopharma companies and start-ups to enter this space through targeted support schemes and investment-friendly policies. Establish centralised bio-AI infrastructure through institutionally anchored platforms that give developers access to high-performance computing, well-curated biological datasets, and secure cloud environments. These platforms should serve as national enablers—coordinating with start-ups, pharma companies, CDMOs, and academic partners to collaboratively develop AI models and tools suited to biomanufacturing needs —ranging from models for protein design to simulation tools for optimising cell culture, purification, and quality control. Once in place, this same digital backbone can also support building and deploying AI agents to augment human operation across the biomanufacturing pipeline —from fine-tuning bioprocess conditions and flagging inconsistencies to automating regulatory documentation and forecasting supply needs, these intelligent systems can enhance speed, quality, and consistency throughout production and compliance workflows. Cultivate a robust and future-ready talent pipeline through interdisciplinary training, upskilling programmes, curriculum reforms—supported by strong academia-industry collaboration—at the interface of advanced biomanufacturing disciplines and AI-integrated platforms. Prioritise initiatives for targeted hiring—including efforts to attract Indian postdoctoral researchers and professionals abroad who are seeking meaningful opportunities to return. Invest in scaling domestic capabilities through targeted government instruments such as viability gap funding, low-interest loans, and innovation-linked incentives that reduce early-stage risk. Identify and support entities with the capacity and potential to deliver high-impact products at scale. Modernise regulatory systems to enable risk-proportionate approval pathways, ensure globally benchmarked product quality, enhance biosafety and biosecurity protocols, and achieve world-class compliance to build international product credibility and drive market leadership. With key initiatives already in motion under BIoE3 policy spearheaded by the Department of Biotechnology, pharma companies, CDMOs, and innovators must now build on this momentum—moving beyond legacy products to invest in high-value areas like advanced biologics and critical reagent production. The opportunity is here; the sector is ready. It's time to lead. This article is authored by Dhananjay Kumar Tiwary, Senior Fellow, Brown University, US, and on leave from his position as adviser to the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India.
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Business Standard
16-05-2025
- Science
- Business Standard
India to conduct first biological experiments aboard ISS: Jitendra Singh
India is set to conduct its first-ever biological experiments aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to study the sustainability of human life in space, Science and Technology Jitendra Singh said on Thursday. An important initiative under the BioE3, these unique experiments, spearheaded by the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) in collaboration with the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), will be carried out as part of the upcoming International Space Station (ISS) mission AXIOM-4, with Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla as a crew member. Singh said the first experiment at the ISS will examine the impact of microgravity and space radiation on the growth of edible microalgae, a nutrient-rich potential food source for long-duration space missions. This project is a joint initiative of Isro, NASA, and DBT and aims to analyse key growth parameters and changes in transcriptomes, proteomes, and metabolomes of different algal species in space, as compared to Earth-based controls. The results will help identify the most suitable microalgal species for use in space environments, he added. Microalgae offer several key advantages that make them ideal candidates for sustaining life in space. They have an extremely short life cycle, with some species growing in as little as 26 hours, allowing for rapid biomass production. The second experiment at the ISS will study the growth and proteomic responses of cyanobacteria, such as Spirulina and Synechococcus, under microgravity conditions using urea- and nitrate-based media. Singh said the need to recycle carbon and nitrogen from human waste during prolonged space travel to achieve self-sustainability in spacecraft and future extraterrestrial colonies. Cyanobacteria, due to their fast growth and efficient photosynthesis, are ideal agents for such recycling systems, he said. According to the minister, the experiment aims to explore Spirulina as a "superfood" due to its high protein and vitamin content, compare the growth of cyanobacterial cells in urea versus nitrate environments, and study the effect of space conditions on their metabolic profiles. The experiments have been developed in association with scientists from the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi, under the broader Isro-DBT research collaboration.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
In a first, India to conduct experiments aboard ISS to study sustainability of life in space
NEW DELHI: India is all set to conduct the first ever biological experiment aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to study the sustainability of human life in space, ministry of science & technology announced on Thursday. The initiative comes as a part of BioE3 Biotechnology policy launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "In a historic initiative, the first of its kind ever in the world, India is set to conduct first-ever biological experiments aboard the "International Space Station" (ISS) to study the sustainability of human life in Space," science and technology minister Jitendra Singh said in a post on X. "The unique experiments, spearheaded by the Indian Space Research Organisation #Isro in collaboration with the Department of Biotechnology #DBT, will be carried out as part of the upcoming International Space Station (ISS) mission Axiom-4, with Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla as a crew member. The DBT has undertaken this ambitious project as a sequel to the "#BioE3" Biotechnology policy launched by PM Sh @NarendraModi," he added. The experiments led by Isro in partnership with the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) are set to take place aboard the upcoming Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station, with astronaut group captain Shubhanshu Shukla among the crew, according to a statement by the department. "This project is a joint initiative of Isro, Nasa, and DBT and aims to analyze key growth parameters and changes in transcriptomes, proteomes, and metabolomes of different algal species in space, as compared to Earth-based controls. The results will help identify the most suitable microalgal species for use in space environments, he added," the statement said. The second experiment aboard the ISS will examine how cyanobacteria like Spirulina and Synechococcus grow and respond at the proteomic level in microgravity, using both urea- and nitrate-based nutrient media, it said.
India.com
11-05-2025
- Business
- India.com
Microsoft founder Bill Gates will donate his wealth of Rs 900000 crore to..., makes shocking comment on Elon Musk
Microsoft founder Bill Gates- File image In a significant development, billionaire and philanthropist Bill Gates has said that he will donate 99% of his remaining tech fortune to the Gates Foundation, which will now close in 2045, earlier than previously planned. Readers must note that as of today, the total expected donation is expected to be worth an estimated $107 billion (approximately Rs 900000 crore). As per a report by news agency PTI, Gates' donation will be delivered over time and allow the foundation to spend an additional $200 billion over the next 20 years. The pledge is among the largest philanthropic gifts ever – outpacing the historic contributions of industrialists like John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie when adjusted for inflation. Only Berkshire Hathaway investor Warren Buffett's pledge to donate his fortune — currently estimated by Forbes at $160 billion — may be larger depending on stock market fluctuations. 'There are too many urgent problems to solve for me to hold onto resources that could be used to help people. That is why I have decided to give my money back to society much faster than I had originally planned', Gates had wrote in his recent post. About Gates Foundation The Gates Foundation is an American private foundation founded by Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates. The foundation is based in Seattle, Washington and it was launched in 2000. It is reported to be the third largest charitable foundation in the world. Bill Gates on Elon Musk In the recent statement, Bill Gates accused world's richest man, Elon Musk of killing the world's poorest children after Elon Musk's support for the US's massive cuts in foreign aid, as per a report by ABP Live. Bill Gates discusses biotech startups, health innovation in India In another significant development from India, Union Minister of State (independent charge) for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh met with Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates to discuss collaborations on biotech startups and health innovations in India, Ministry of Science & Technology said as per a report by news agency IANS. The discussions with Gates, currently on an India visit, covered advancement in gene therapy, vaccine innovation, biotechnology manufacturing, and India's evolving startup ecosystem. 'Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has witnessed a surge in biotech innovations, supported by policies like Bio E3–biotechnology for the economy, employment, and environment,' said Singh. (With inputs from agencies)
