Biotechnology taking deep roots in AP

P Ram Kumar - Hyderabad

Though the development of the biotechnology industry in India is at the nascent stage, Andhra Pradesh, however, is making rapid strides in this knowledge-driven industry. Out of over 200 biotech companies in India, around 65 are located in the state and the activities of nearly 70 per cent of them relate to the healthcare sector.

According to the biotech industry sources here, Andhra Pradesh tops in the total number of biotech companies in India, with institutions like ICICI Knowledge Park, R & D centres and training institutes, offering a wide range of courses relating to this industry.

Production value

The total value of biotech products relating to the healthcare sector, produced by 20-odd companies in the state during 2001-2002, on a conservative estimate, amounted to over Rs 400 crore. While some of the new entrants into this sector are yet to commence their commercial operations, others have commenced the same only recently. The spurt in the number of biotech companies, including in areas like agriculture, industrial enzymes, floriculture, etc, particularly in and around Hyderabad during the last few years has been due to a host of favourable factors.

New players

Apart from the two major companies - Shantha Biotechnics and Bharat Biotech International - that are engaged in the production of hepatitis B vaccine - the new companies, which have entered the biotech sector in the state, include Aktiva Biotech Ltd, Avon Organics Ltd, Sudershan Biotech Ltd, Endeavour Enterprises Bio-Mech Engineering Services, Fytokem Formulations Ltd, Genotex International, Jeevan Remedies, K N Biotech Private Ltd, Magene Life Sciences, Medgene Biotech, Micro Biomed Products Ltd and Zenovus Biotech Private Ltd.

Wide range of activities

The activities of the new biotech companies relate to the production of bulk drugs, ephedrine, pseudoephedrine and their salts by fermentation process, bacterial and viral and recombinant vaccines, biopharmaceuticals, rDNA products, interferon, biotech formulations, DNA-based therapeutics, screening of medicinal plants against various drug targets, lactic acid bacillus and other probiotic microbes etc. The operations of some of the other new companies relate to offering of training courses in bioinformatics, pharmacogenomics and nanotechnology diploma course, PG courses in biochemistry, biotechnology, applied biotechnology, pharmaceutical management as specialisation for the management post-graduates, pharmacy, microbiology, contract research services in informatics, medicinal chemistry and discovery biology, contract research and outsourcing, platformatics and commercial applications, proteomics and macromolecular modelling, stem cell research, apart from making devices and equipment for the biotech companies.

While some companies have already commenced their operations, projects of others are under various stages of implementation. ‘‘In a few years from now Andhra Pradesh will witness the production of a wide range of biotech products and offer of biotech-related services,’’ says Dr B S Bajaj, president of the All India Biotech Association, southern chapter.

Stem Cell Research

In the area of stem cell research, a couple of players have shown keen interest in this exciting field. Pacific Hospitals Private Ltd of Hyderabad has signed an MoU with Pacific Healthcare Holdings of Singapore to set up stem cell bank/research facility relating to umbilical cord blood.

SVIMS facility

The Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS) at Tirupati is planning to set up Balaji Biotechnology Park on its campus with an estimated cost of Rs 100 crore with the help of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), Andhra Pradesh and Central governments. The government of Andhra Pradesh has sanctioned an aid of Rs 25 lakh to the biotechnology department of the SVIMS. The department proposes to set up a stem cell centre in the biotechnology section.

The Centre for Liver Research and Diagnostics of the Deccan College of Medical Sciences and Allied Hospitals is already engaged in research relating to cell-based therapy in collaboration with the Centre for Diagnostics and Fingerprinting (CDFD), Bharat Biotech International Ltd, CCMB and Sudershan Biotech Ltd. Other institutions which are actively engaged in research relating to biotechnology include L V Prasad Eye Institute, University of Hyderabad, Bhagwan Mahavir Medical Research Centre and the Institute of Genetics of Osmania University. During the Partnership Summit held here recently, over 12 investment proposals were received in the biotech sector worth over Rs 475 crore.

MoUs worth Rs 100 cr

According to B P Acharya, secretary, Industry, AP Government, eight memoranda of understanding (MoU) were signed during the recently concluded international meet on biotechnology that are worth Rs 100 crore between foreign companies and Hyderabad-based companies/institutions. Some of the MoUs are between Novo Tera Foundation of USA and Genotex India Pvt Ltd for the transfer of technology for products and processes in the areas of human, animal and plant health specifically in the areas of cancer and other diseases and Biotech International (BTI) of USA and DRA Systems of Hyderabad. BTI will provide guidelines for the setting up of data management components for clinic trials. EFS Systems Inc. of USA signed an agreement with Shantha Biotechnics Pvt Ltd, covering general area of collaboration in business research of current molecules for new therapies.