The Hindu Business Line : `Drug cos on the path of innovation'

Clinical research and innovation should converge with medical students looking at research and not just medical practice, according to Dr Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Chairman and Managing Director, Biocon Ltd.

Addressing an Indo-Swedish symposium on `Genomics and proteomics of diabetes', here on Saturday, Dr Shaw said pharmaceutical companies were moving from being "imitators to innovators''.

Companies are strongly on the path of innovation with pressure on the pharma sector to make drug development more affordable. India can be a strong partner in this initiative.

Drug delivery

Biotechnology offers new approaches to drug development as it enables a deeper understanding of the disease and processes. Diabetes is a key disease segment that has benefited — development of recombinant human insulin. Biotechnology is looking beyond drug development to drug delivery — inhalation or oral delivery of insulin, she said.

Quoting a report in a science magazine, Dr Shaw said it noted that with 34 million diabetics in India, products would be developed with the Indian market in mind. But, India has been slow to utilise with `patient base' and time has come to change the use of medical resources.

Intellectual wealth

Innovation is the strongest currency to realise the power of intellectual wealth, she said. Her `own label of richest woman of India' is an endorsement of this. Intellectual wealth can be built in a short period unlike conventional route that could take generations — "You do not need to be an oil tycoon,'' she said.

Dr Jan C. Duke, Dean of Research and Education, Karolinska Institute, Sweden, said Scandinavia had a long history of integrating research and clinical practice. Over 25 per cent of its physicians also have a Ph.D. degree.

The symposium was organised by the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, Chennai, and the Karolinska Institute.

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