Impact of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology on the Future of Medicine

New Delhi, April 06, 2017: A two day Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Sponsored National Conference on Impact of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology on the Future of Medicine was recently organized by Geetanjali Institute of Pharmacy, Geetanjali University, Udaipur on 24^th–25^th March , 2017. Around 400 delegates comprising of Deans, Principals, teachers, research scholars, post graduate and graduate students from various institutes across India participated in the two day conference.

The proceedings of the conference can be unfurled into eight parts. On first day the first part included the inaugural session, three scientific sessions, followed by the session consisted of oral and poster presentations. Second day consist of two scientific sessions and final part included the valedictory session which marked the end of the academic event.

The inaugural session of the conference begun at 10.30 AM at Lt. Smt. Narmada Devi Agarwal Auditorium with the invocation song and lighting the lamp in the presence of Goddess Saraswati by Dr. Bhaswat S. Chakraborty, Senior Vice President and Chairman, Research & Development Core Committee, Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Ahmedabad, Gujarat; Dr. S. C. Tiwari, Principal Scientist, Research & Development (Chemical Technology) Rotam Agrochemicals (HK) Co. Ltd., China, Director- RITC-RCPPL- Sanawad, Udaipur; Prof. (Dr.) Ashok Dashora, Convener of conference, Dean, GIP;Dr. Kalpesh Gaur, Organizing secretary; Dr. C. P. Jain, Professor, Department of Pharmacy, MLSU, Udaipur; Dr. P. K. Choudhary, Professor MLSU, Udaipur; Dr. M. S. Ranawat, Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, B. N. University, Udaipur; Dr. Y. S. Sarangdevot, Principal, B. N. College of Pharmacy, Udaipur; Mr. Alok Bhargava, Executive Committee Member, PCI, New Delhi. The guests and gathering were formally welcomed by Dr. Ashok Dashora (Dean-GIP). He continued his words and talked about his mission towards vision & values. He believed that the conference will be landmark in the journey of research and development in the field of biotechnology.

Shri Ajay Phatak (Drug Controller of Rajasthan) graced the occasion as a Chief Guest and emphasized the importance of innovation for improving the delivery of drugs. He ensured us that he is working on his dream to make Udaipur a pharma hub. He continued his words by talking about H’ble PMs “JAN AUSHADHI YOJNA” and encourages the pharma institutions to bring a step forward and start JAN AUSHADHI KENDRA by their institutions. He appreciated the two days conference and said Biotechnology is very useful for future development of medicine. He shows his belief that this conference will lift the future of students and ensured his presence and help whenever required to students.

Theevent is followed by key note address by Dr. Bhaswat S. Chakraborty (Senior Vice President and Chairman, Research and Development Core Committee Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India) on “ Development of Biosimilars”. Biotechnology is a way and predominant force in pharmacy field. Biosimilars are any copy of patented biological and very similar to innovator, he said. He talked about principals of developing biosimilars, purpose of biosimilarity determination. Development of biosimilar takes average time of 7.5 years which is 5 years more than genetic drug. He explained the development process of biosimilars which is developing equivalent host cell, preparing cell bank clones, process development, progress manufacturing scale and comparing testing. Recent changes in D & C regulations & SC derivatives are progressive and had made many things transparent, he concluded.

This was followed by a scientific session by Dr. S. C. Tiwari (Principal Scientist –R&D (Chemical Technology) Rotam Agrochemical (HK) Co. Ltd., China; Director-RITC-RCPPL-Sanwad Udaipur -India) on “ Introduction and Application of Biotechnology in Pharmaceutical Science ”. He educated the audience that biotechnology has been used for thousands of years to produce improved food, health care products & environmental treatments. He talked about chronological development & evolving era of biotechnology. He classified biotechnology as red (medicinal biotechnology), white (industrial biotechnology), green (agricultural biotechnology), blue (marine biotechnology) and grey (environmental & sanitation). Grey biotechnology is growing part which grows into treatment of plastic and waste, is to be explored, he continued. He explained tools of biotechnology, which are bioprocessing, genetic engineering etc. He also talked about some applications of biotechnology. Biotechnology plays a pivotal role in future of the medical, agricultural, environmental, food, pharmacy & industrial sector of economy. He motivated the audience to move faster to invent more & more in biotechnology area to culminate in to most economic and sustainable technologies.

The post lunch session started with a lecture by Dr. Nitin K Jain (Scientist “E”, Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science & Technology, Block-II, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi, India) titled “ Biopharmaceuticals; an Indian Perspective”. His innovative talk included extended regulations for development of biotechnical products. He compared top best selling drugs in 2003/2013 and concluded that only 1/10 drug was related to biotechnical process in 2003 whereas in 2013 7/10 drugs were related to biotechnical process. He ended his session talking about issues related to patenting biotechnological inventions.

This scientific session was followed Oral presentation and poster presentation in which delegates presented their views and ideas on the concern topic and evaluated by experts. The day was ended with an open discussion and interaction session on high tea.

Second day of conference begun with talk of Dr. Abhay Madhukar Harsulkar [Professor & Head, Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Poona College of Pharmacy, Bharti Vidhyapeeth Deemed University, Erandwane, Pune and Scientist F, Interactive Research School of Health Affairs (IRSHA)] on “ Nutrient Gene Interaction: Fundamental Approach In Disease Management ” in which he described about the nutrigenomics: how nutrients effect our genes and health. It consists of pharma, food and human genomics. He described that the food we eat is bioactive and works on our DNA & RNA and also explained about applications of genomics in nutrient research & study of nutrient gene interaction. He also educated the audience how genes are responsible for variation of cellular responses to environmental stimuli, also about functions of gene, biological role of encoded proteins, chromosome remodelling. This is era of better nutrition, he ended.

The last scientific session was on “ Quantitative Analysis of Endogenous Biomarkers: Challenges and Results ” by Dr. Yashpal Singh Chhonker, (Postdoc Research Associate, Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, United States). He spoke about the various quantitative analytical techniques. He described pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics & general stages and their relationship in the life cycle of drug after administration. He listed about various advantages of mass detectors in method development and validation. He also educated the gathering about biomarkers, major functions of biomarkers in clinical trials, pharmacodynamics & efficacy of biomarkers.

After the scientific sessions of the conference, the valedictory function was started in which the conference was concluded by Mrs. Santosh Kitawat, Assistant Professor, Geetanjali Institute of Pharmacy. The winners of poster & oral presentation were awarded by Guests. The first prize for poster presentation was won by Mr. Abdul Rasheed, Al-Ameen College of Pharmacy, Bengaluru. The second prize was awarded to Mr. Jeevan Menaria, AMC, RNT Medical College, Udaipur & third prize was given to Ms. Monika Sen & Ms. Inu Rawal, Department of Biotechnology, MLSU, Udaipur. In Oral presentation, the first prize was awarded to Dr. Veenu Bala, Department of Pharmacy, MLSU, Udaipur, Second prize was won by Dr. Virendra Singh, Geetanjali Institute of Pharmacy, Geetanjali University, Udaipur and the third prize was won by Dr. Rahul Garg, Geetanjali Institute of Pharmacy, Geetanjali University, Udaipur. The vote of thanks was given by Dr. Kalpesh Gaur, Organizing secretary. He expressed his thanks to all the guests for accepting the invitations, sponsors for support and encouragement. He highlighted the issue of the conference. All the working committees performed their function with full devotion and sincerity. The conference can be declared as a success as far as the feedbacks of students and resource persons are considered. The conference deliberated the path of the pharmaceutical biotechnology development and showcases some of the cutting edge technologies, latest developments and efficient methodologies.

Corporate Comm India(CCI Newswire)