Does the future look bright for India´s Vaccine Industry?
Following the Wold Health Organisation?s approval of India?s vaccine regulatory system two weeks ago there has been much speculation over what the future holds for India?s Vaccine Industry. By achieving WHO approval the Industry has reached an important milestone that projects a bright future for the Industry, however, the path to success is still not without its hurdles.
The recent Vaccine World Summit, which was held in India, saw a large number of foreign agencies seeking to partner with Indian firms in the development of vaccines. This desire was partially fuelled by the India?s strategic vision to develop reduced cost therapeutics and partially by the central role that the Industry currently plays as a global provider of vaccines.
The main challenge facing the Indian Vaccine Industry is the lack of a clear clinical trial process pipeline that results in delays in acquiring permission for trials. In order to benefit not only companies, but also medical professionals who conduct trials, this process needs to be streamlined in order to identify a timeline over which processes can be carried out.
In order to overcome this challenge the vaccine manufacturers have formed the Developing Vaccine Manufacturers Network. Working closely with the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), the network is in the process of assimilating the desires of the vaccine industry as a collective whole that will present a larger, more unified, voice to the DBT and other governmental agencies.
If successful, these refinements will have a positive impact on international programmes based in India, such as the Rotavirus vaccine development programme, that will, in turn, have improve global immunization efforts. Furthermore, the Industry?s current position as the supplier of 60% of global vaccines will likely improve to secure more of the projected $500mn global vaccine market.
– Jonathan Mackinnon
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