Among the antibiotics produced in the country, those produced by synthetic methods like chloramphenicol from benzaldehyde have not been included.The modern biotech products such as recombinant proteins and substantial portions of immunodiagnostic kits, special materials for biotech research etc. are however, being imported and consumed.
It can be safely concluded from the accompanying table that the consumption for biotechnological products is increasing steadily. Nevertheless, most of the technologies available in the field of medical products are largely of imported origin.
It is anticipated that the pressure of consumption in the local market coupled with the cost of modern biotech life saving products would impel the local industries to develop manufacturing capabilities inIndia. This may be either in-house or in association with local R & D institutes like Biotechnology Resource Centre (BRC), Mumbai.
There is a possibility of significant investments in the following areas based primarily on imported technologies.
Cell culture based vaccines forhuman, animals and poultry.In fine, the prospects of development of biotech industries in these areas are considered bright. Let us discuss them in little more details.
As indicated in table the human and animal health areas dominate the scene and would continue to do so for several years in future. India has already a strong R & D base in medical biotechnology. As a result the industry in these areas could flourish at rapid speed.
The Indian expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) has to cater about 23 million new-borns against childhood diseases and an equal number of pregnant women against tetanus, which calls for manufacturing large quantities of vaccines.
Nevertheless, it must be mentioned here that the abundant capacities have already been created in the country for the production of vaccines against tetanus (T), diphtheria (D), pertussis (P) and combinations thereof like PT, DT, BCG and measles: Sheep brain derived as well as chic embryo cell culture based rabies vaccines, yellow fevervaccine, Japanese encephalitis vaccine inactivated cholera and typhoid vaccines are also being produced locally.
In addition to active vaccines, sensitised equine [horse-origin] antisera against tetanus, gas gangrene, rabies and snake-venom are also being produced locally.
A manufacturing unit with an annual production capacity of 100 million doses of oral polio vaccine was set up by the central Government at Bulandshahr (UP) through Technology Consultancy Cooperation with Russia way back in 1994.Genetically engineered as well as human plasma derived hepatitis B vaccines are being imported and marketed in the country. Similarly human diploid cell culture based rabies vaccine and the improved cell-cultured vaccine against measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), and influenza are being imported consumed.
The import of vaccine fluctuates so highly right from as low as 50,000 to 400,000 doses every year. Several other vaccines like attenuated oral as well as Vi antigen based injectable typhoid vaccine, H, influenzatype B, meningitis and varicell (chicken pox) are also required in the country in sizeable quantity.
The total turnover of sera and vaccines used for human ailments is increasing rapidly from Rs 1,265 million in 1993 to nearing Rs 2,000 million by 2,000. The vaccines market is growing at the rate of 8-10 per cent annually in quantitative terms with the equine antisera market being more or less static. For new enterprises there are ample opportunities for setting up of basic production facilities for MMR, measles, cell-cultured rabies, recombinant hepatitis, oral and injectable typhoid [Vi antigen based] and other vaccines as the demand is increasing. Besides, the sale of these products is primarily through private consumption with ability to pay higher prices.
The authors are associated with Biotechnology Resource Centre, Mumbai. The views expressed here are their own
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.