Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) hosted a symposium on the Discovery and Development of Monoclonal Antibody Therapeutics today at its campus. This event brought together leading experts from the pharmaceutical industry, start-ups, CRDMOs, various funding organizations (such as BIRAC, Wadhwani Foundation), and academic organizations for scientific knowledge exchange and to explore innovative models for advancing monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapies in India.

The symposium underscored India's burgeoning biopharmaceutical sector and the immense potential for indigenous innovation in this critical area. A key highlight of the discussions was the urgent need for enhanced collaboration between industry and academia, starting from the earliest stages of innovation and discovery, to develop affordable and indigenous technologies.

In his welcome address, Prof. Jayanta Bhattacharya, Dean, THSTI, emphasized the critical importance of early collaboration between industry and academia at the innovation and discovery stage. He highlighted that such partnerships are vital for developing indigenous and affordable technologies, which can significantly benefit the nation.

Prof. G. Karthikeyan, Executive Director, THSTI, further elaborated on India's significant contributions to the field of monoclonal antibodies. He noted that the current moment is critical, with supportive policies in place. Prof. Karthikeyan stressed the imperative to establish clusters where academia and industry can converge and collaborate. He said that these clusters would serve as fertile ground for training skilled personnel and that symposia like this are instrumental in uniting professionals from diverse sectors.

Dr. Alka Sharma,Scientist H and Senior Adviser, DBT, in her address, brought attention to the Bio-E3 policy (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment & Employment) of DBT, Government of India, detailing its key components. She underscored the pivotal role of mAbs in precision medicine and reaffirmed DBT’s full commitment to their development. The Bio-E3 Initiative aims to catalyze biotechnological self-reliance by investing in advanced platforms like mAbs to combat diseases and strengthen local research and development capacity, reducing reliance on imports and ensuring equitable access to high-quality biologics.

The symposium featured a series of insightful presentations by representatives from various industry players actively engaged in monoclonal antibody research and development. Key sessions included:

The symposium concluded with a panel discussion on "Accelerating Discovery and Early Development of Indigenous Therapeutic Solutions using Monoclonal Antibodies under Bio-E3 initiative," further solidifying the collaborative spirit. The panelists discussed ways to bring more funding to academia-industry collaborations and the need to have more such matchmaking sessions. These efforts are expected to lead to an expanded pipeline of mAb therapies, improved quality of learning and workforce preparation, and ultimately, drive economic growth and social progress.

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NKR/PSM

Bricthsti Press Release