Government organizations, which engage in biotechnology R&D
Plant Genomics Center, New Delhi, Center for Human Genetics, Bangalore.
Ministry of health with assistance from Japan and US has established
institute for research, manufacturing and clinical trials - National
Institute of Biologicals, at New Delhi.
Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB)
Established in 1977 solely for the advancement of biotechnology, it has
spawned a number of industry collaborations and technology spin-offs
.It worked with private institutions to produce India's first
recombinant DNA vaccine for Hepatitis B.
National Facility for Macromolecular Crystallography, BARC, Mumbai:
The facility was created jointly by the Department of Atomic Energy and
Department of Biotechnology. Some of the specific uses were: Synthesis
of primers required for cloning and site directed mutagenesis of human
carbonic anhydrase using a gene assembler. The FPLC system is routinely
used for purification of mutants of recombinant carbonic anhydrase,
HIV-I protease and Saponin.
National Facility for High Field NMR, TIFR, Mumbai:
A number of contemporary research in the area of biological NMR are
pursued by the use of multidimensional NMR techniques. These include:
Structure and Dynamics of proteins, Nucleic acids, Nucleic acid -
protein interaction, Conformation of bioactive peptides membrane
architecture etc. Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow:
This facility is maintaining several different strains of some species
of rodents. The breeding unit of this facility at present in
maintaining a large number of animals, and every year supplies more
than 50,000 animals within and outside the institute for use in various
projects.
National Institute Of Immunology, New Delhi The
institute has so far developed, validated and technology transferred to
the industry, the following diagnostic kits: two kits for pregnancy,
one each for typhoid, hepatitis B, amoebic liver abscess and intestinal
amoebiasis. The Institute has developed an ELISA test to detect
the presence of HIV- 1 and HIV-2 Antibodies in serum with high
specificity to the local strains.
National Brain Research Center, New Delhi
-The Department established a dedicated center for Brain Research,
named as National Brain Research Center (NBRC) on the 14th November,
1997. This center is dedicated to provide infrastructure facilities and
a coordinated multidisciplinary team to work at the frontiers of
neuroscience research and network the existing groups and whenever
required create satellite units to catalyze the overall growth of this
discipline in the country. Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research (IISR), Lucknow
was established in 1952 by the erstwhile Indian Central Sugarcane
Committee for conducting researches on fundamental and applied aspects
of sugarcane culture as well as to co-ordinate the research work done
on this crop in different States of the country.
National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR)
was established in 1983 and has emerged as a Center of Excellence in
cataloguing and conserving aquatic bioresources of India. The Bureau
has developed modern facilities, multidimensional strategies and
technological capabilities to achieve its mandate related to database
development, genotyping, registration of aquatic germplasm, genebanking
and evaluation of endangered and exotic fish species.
Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP)
is a multi disciplinary multi locational R & D institute dedicated
to the cause of medicinal and aromatic plant research, cultivation and
business. CIMAP has its footprints in different agro climatic zones of
India in form of its Resource Centers (CRC) and Resource Points (CRP). National Botanical Research Institute
is a premier plant based multidisciplinary, state-of-art national
R&D Centre of CSIR undertaking research from classical taxonomy to
cutting edge areas of modern biology-including both applied and basic
research in the fields of biochemistry, bioinformatics, biotechnology,
conservation biology, cytogenetics, environmental sciences,
ethnopharmacology, floriculture, microbiology, molecular biology and
genetic engineering, pharmacognosy, pharmacy, physiology,
phytochemistry, plant biodiversity, plant breeding, taxonomy and tree
biology, for the conservation and sustainable utilization of the non
crop plant genetic resources of the country.
Private Sector organizations, engaged in Biotechnology
Biocon Ltd.
the first and largest biotech company in India started in 1978
formulating industrial enzymes provided by an Irish company. Biocon
retains its roots in the world markets for food and industrial enzymes.
It also has turned its fermentation technology to the manufacture of
drugs, developing a pipeline of statins and winning U.S. FDA approval
this year to market generic lovastatin for cholesterol reduction.
Biocon also has created contract drug discovery, clinical trials,
genomics and chemistry research units and sister companies. Biocon's
Syngene unit has 150 scientists working on drug discovery, chemical
synthesis, and molecular biology. Serum Institute
- Pune based WHO Certified Biopharma Company engaged in the production
of vaccines for - DPT, MMR, MR, etc. Company has recently got 200 Crs
order for vaccine from UNICEF.It is setting up a 100% EOU and expecting
turnover of 300 Crs. It has recently acquired TVL a Hyderabad based
company having technology to make Hepatitis B, to produce this vaccine
also from its new EOU. Panacea biotech
- it is pharmaceutical company also engaged in the Pharma-biotechnology
research, wherein it has products like vaccine for Oral polio and
Hepatitis B. Company is also having WHO certified vaccine plant for
supplies to UNICEF. Company has joint venture with Heber biotech S.A.
Cuba, for recombinant Hepatitis B vaccine and Erythropoetin. Company is
having 720 million doses capacity. Dr. Reddy's Lab
primarily a strong player in chemical research is moving in the biotech
research. It is concentrating on therapeutic proteins made through
recombinant DNA technology. It has already staked about Rs. 50 crores
in this field and is expected to bring out the country's third biotech
vaccine- a cancer vaccine GCSF. Dr. Reddy's offer diagnostic proteins
for HIV infection, therapeutic proteins for vaccines, cytokines and
anti-viral. Jubilant Organosys
is a part of Rs 1000 crore Jubilant Corp. The science active quality
products are relies upon by global customers in more than 50 countries.
The other leading company of the organization is Jubilant Biosys (P)
Ltd that is a genomics service provider in the area of bioinformatics
and cheminoinformatics located in Bangalore. Cipla has invested about Rs. 100mn in its biotech ventures with smaller companies overseas. Its focus
research areas will be hepatitis and tropical diseases like malaria. INTAS
has become one of the leading pharmaceuticals groups in India since
1976 With a strong Formulation Development Facility, several innovative
formulation have been developed for the first time in India. Zydus Cadila
is another Indian player, which has decided to invest in genome
technology. The company plans to invest as much as 7.5% of its turnover
on R&D and tie up with other R&D institutions internationally.
Cadila is already associated with CDRI, Lucknow. Wockhardt has made forays into this segment; the company has tied up with Rhein Biotech. It spent $7.5
million on biotech research and in April it launched Erythropoietin. Biological E
is another biotechnology company that has been in the market for some
time. Incorporated in 1963, the company has a 63 per cent market share
in the vaccines business. Biological E has a very strong research base
and is scouting around for funds to expand its activities. Bayer-
In a largest deal in this sector, the multinational Bayer has acquired
Proagro group of companies. The Rs. 90 Crs Proagro group has Proagro
Seed Co., India. And Proagro-PGS India, India in its fold. This is a
major player in agri-biotechnology and hybrid seeds business with one
of largest and most advanced research center in India. Nicholas Piramal
- Company is entering in the field of bioinformatics and genomics. Its
genomics project is in alliance with Center for Biochemical Technology
and will focus on disease target in area of cardiovascular, diabetes
and cancer. Ranbaxy Lab.
- Company plans to use biotechnology in drug development and started
bioinformatics facilities for molecule modeling and drug designing. It
has tied up with CBT for pharmaco genomics research to upgrade its drug
discovery capabilities. It is also joining hand with Dept. of
Biotechnology for medical diagnostics. Thapar Group
has evolved from a small coal agency to India's third largest corporate
entity with significant presence in International business environment.
The Thapar Group has established manufacturing facilities in Africa
& industries in the South East Asia, taken up & completed
engineering contracts in the Middle East, provided full fledged
technical consultancy for one of the largest joint sector pulp mills in
Thailand. The group's major activities are paper, Engineering
Electronics, Textiles Chemicals, Electrical & Electronics, Man-made
Fibers, Leather, Agri Businesses and Biotechnology ICICI
too has jumped into the fray and decided to pump in funds to promote
genome research in India. This is a welcome break for Indian
agriculture and the pharmaceutical industry. |
