Date:02/01/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/
`Reap biotech rewards thru suitable infrastructure' V. Rishi Kumar (foto) Dr Raghu Kalluri Hyderabad , Jan. 1 DR Raghu Kalluri, Associate Professor of Medicine at the Harvard Medical School, and the Programme Director in Matrix Biology in Boston, has founded about six biotechnology companies in the US and has embarked on a mission to integrate the IP created by US experts with the R&D expertise of Indian manpower. Now in India on a brief visit, Dr Kalluri told Business Line how the Indian policy makers need to create the necessary infrastructure first and straightaway enable Indian biotechnology companies grow and mature, before actually speaking about biotechnology funds. "Often even experts expect to replicate what they did with IT to BT. In fact it is not the case. Typically, from research to actual success, it could take up to 10 years and possibly involve about $150 million and this can only be understood in the context of the global scenario. But what can happen in the Indian context is, we can actually harness the potential of the research and development capability here with the intellectual property created by the US research agencies and make it a win-win situation. The issue here is about creating the necessary infrastructure, the culture for work and the IP necessary through research and industry joint ventures as is the case with Harvard," he explained. If that happens, many venture capitalists are willing to fund biotechnology initiatives and wait for longer periods for better returns. If you look at the US example, the biotechnology industry is estimated at $50 billion and continues to grow at a steady pace. This was possible through good research and industry partnership, he said. Dr Kalluri, who is associated with the formation of Nugenix, Convergence Pharmaceuticals, EAI Corporation, Nephrotech Inc, and Biostratum, said that the work culture in large research driven institutions such as Harvard, is tuned to the success of the IP thus created by researchers, which can then be licensed. "I specialise in the area where the research is focussed on how the environment influences the functioning of a human cell. Research related to this area and areas such as liver diseases, kidney ailments and embryonic stem cells are being focussed lately. It is in such areas that US universities and research centres having large IP base, can partner with Indian companies and leverage potential of the large talent pool here," he said. The Hindu Business Line *************************************************************************** Berdikusi dg Santun & Elegan, dg Semangat Persahabatan. Menuju Indonesia yg Lebih Baik, in Commonality & Shared Destiny. www.ppi-india.uni.cc *************************************************************************** __________________________________________________________________________ Mohon Perhatian: 1. Harap tdk. memposting/reply yg menyinggung SARA (kecuali sbg otokritik) 2. Pesan yg akan direply harap dihapus, kecuali yg akan dikomentari. 3. Lihat arsip sebelumnya, www.ppi-india.da.ru; 4. Forum IT PPI-India: http://www.ppiindia.shyper.com/itforum/ 5. Satu email perhari: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 6. No-email/web only: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 7. kembali menerima email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ppiindia/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
