Respite from the malarial scourge is in sight. The International Centre of
Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi, has developed a
vaccine for Malaria. The clinical trial results, so far, have been encouraging.
Now the vaccine is all set to enter the human clinical trial stage.
The Malaria Vaccine Initiative (MVI) launched by ICGEB, New
Delhi, has been involved in understanding the functional roles of malaria
parasite proteins and developing potential vaccine candidates. This
much-applauded project is in the final stages now. In a couple of months the
vaccine will enter the final phase of human clinical trials. The institute has
signed an agreement with Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech Ltd, which would
manufacture the vaccine for human clinical trials later this year.
Explaining about the malarial vaccine, Dr VS Chauhan,
director ICGEB, New Delhi component, said, "The Indian malaria vaccine
program ranks amongst the best in the world and had attracted funds for the
production of vaccine grade material from the biotechnology industry in India,
clearing the way for the first-ever Indian malaria vaccine trials. Basically,
the researchers at ICGEB fine-tuned the candidate vaccine against infection from
Plasmodium vivax, the most widespread form of malaria in India and then
transferred the technology to Bharat Biotech. The challenges faced in developing
the vaccine were mainly because of the parasite’s complex life cycle,
multiplicity of parasite strains, and the global drug resistance."
| "Need to add more
values to our skill"
 Heading
the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New
Delhi component, Dr VS Chauhan believes that though we have enough skill
and knowledge base to start off in biotechnology but we need to constantly
improvise.
How does India compare with other developing nations
in the biotech arena?
The term biotechnology is really catching up in India.
But it is time to actually analyze our growth path. The question ahead of
us is that are we taking the right direction. Biotech in India is like a
newborn baby that requires proper attention. Unless and until we catch
hold of the cutting edge technologies that can be delivered to the
industry, we cannot reach the correct destination. Today in the Indian
biotech industry, we have a limited numbers of big players. I think we
require more efforts and time to grow and establish ourselves in the
global biotech arena.
What is the status of research on the Malaria
vaccine initiative taken up by ICGEB?
The Malaria Group at ICGEB has been involved in
understanding the functional roles of malaria parasite proteins and
developing potential vaccine candidate antigens. On the basis of the
current promising results, the malaria vaccine is about to enter the final
phase of trials. The vaccine is moving into the human clinical trials,
after a few months. The marketing rights for Indian market of this malaria
vaccine have given to Bharat Biotech ltd.
What is the status of technology transfer at your
center?
It is a known fact that scientists are unfortunately
not very good at negotiations for their own science. At ICGEB we are
working to improve this situation. For example the Process Development Lab
is our initiative to get closer to industry. Through this lab we try to
provide a technical platform to bridge the gap between the academia and
industry with the aim of making technology transfer easier for the
industry. We are open for collaborations with the industry and tend to
work on research areas which address the need of the society and the
industry.
How do you rate the potential of India’s knowledge
base?
Everyone is quoting that the Indian knowledge base has a great
potential for attracting international attention. But somehow I personally
believe that though we have enough skill and knowledge base to start
things, but to become leaders in biotechnology we need to add more values
to our skill. Scientific community in India needs to get connected with
the latest research tools and the new emerging trends. We need more
innovative ideas to take shape into research. |
Another feather in the cap of ICGEB, New Delhi component is
the recent development of a Dengue Detection Kit. This project was carried out
by Gene Expression Group of the Centre in collaboration with Defense Research
Development Organization (DRDO). The Center has already filed an application for
an Indian patent on it. Since the technology development is almost in its final
stages, it will be soon transferred to the industry. Emphasizing the importance
of the kit, Dr Naveen Khanna, group leader, Recombinant Gene Expression group,
ICGEB said, "Dengue virus infection has emerged as a significant global
public health threat. The situation is particularly serious as there is neither
an effective antiviral therapy for its treatment nor a vaccine for its
prevention."
Elaborating on the other focus areas of Recombinant Gene
Expression Group, Khanna said, "This group is engaged in the design and
development of laboratory-scale production strategies for several
therapeutically useful recombinant proteins and the transfer of these
technologies to the pharmaceutical industry. In the past, we have successfully
developed laboratory-scale technology for the production of recombinant proteins
such as human interferon a2b, human interferon g, human growth hormone and
Hepatitis B surface antigen. Our Hepatitis B vaccine preparation has been found
to be both safe and efficacious in limited clinical trials carried out at the
Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute, Lucknow."
Today it is important for any research center to not only
generate knowledge but also secure it. Speaking on this aspect Dr Chauhan said,
"ICGEB adopts a positive patenting and licensing policy. Through the
establishment of new guidelines, the centre is in a position to foster an
innovative approach for global industrial relations, enhancing the finalisation
of joint ventures and other partner orientated approaches for the
commercialisation of the results of research in biotechnology. Cooperation with
other international agencies is promoted to harmonise and speed up projects of
common interest."
As of now, 45 agreements have been finalised with industrial
partners located in member and non-member states for the transfer of know-how
related to the production of important compounds, biophar-maceuticals and other
biotechnology derived products. During 2002 the Centerentered into seven new
agreements, one patent application has been licensed in India and negotiations
are currently underway for the licensing of a second patent in Argentina. Two of
the patent applications owned by the Center have been licensed to companies in
the US.
There are 20 patents filed by ICGEB from both the labs at
Trieste, Italy and New Delhi, India. Out of this six patents are filed in India.
And among these, the Indian patent for "Process for preparation of
Recombinant Gamma Interferon" has already been granted.
Faiz Askari
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