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Indian biotech firms eye genome gold

India's fledgling biotech industry is hoping to exploit the country's strong information technology skills and mine the rich vein of opportunity promised by completion of the first human genome map.

"We already have very well developed software skills. And you would need a lot of those to quickly develop genome-based drugs," said Kiran Mazumdar, chief executive officer of Biocon, a pioneering Indian biotech firm.

India's vast pool of scientists, which has made it a formidable IT power, were only spectators as the United States, France, Britain, Japan and China worked to unravel the first rough map of the human genome -- which promises eventual cures for such diseases as cancer, diabetes and heart ailments.

But now a small number of Indian biotech firms, which have sprung up in the last five to six years, want to be a part of the next wave.

"We missed the boat on mapping the genome, and now we must get onto the next one for developing medicines," said Mazumdar, saying the heavy need for IT had been proved by the role of computers in pushing the human genome project ahead of schedule.

The complexity of the human genome, a twisted strand of biological text sometimes known as the human book of life, will require sophisticated technology to find drug molecules that perfectly fit each individual's genetic make-up.

"The new drugs which are coming into the patient will be very, very specific to the patient. Indian scientists have the capability to design such drugs," said Varaprasad Reddy, chief executive officer of Shanta Biotech.

India's technology skills have been recognised worldwide, and Reddy said foreign firms and institutions would be inclined to seek research here on genome-based drugs.

"It will open new doors in India as the scientific talent is there, while the cost of carrying out research is relatively low," said Reddy, adding that only a lack of infrastructure could affect potential investment.

However, not everybody is quite so optimistic.

"Pharmaceutical firms in the countries which worked on the human genome project would be light years ahead of Indian firms. You can't wish away that gap," said an industry official, who did not want to be identified.

There were hardly any biotech firms in India only six or seven years ago, but now quite a few have taken root, making medicines through genetic engineering which are more effective than traditional chemical products.

The industry's annual turnover, which is about Rs 500 million, is expected to grow to more than Rs 5 billion in a few years.

Biocon's Mazumdar said there was nothing to stop Indian firms from innovative research, which some were already doing. "We have got excellent scientists. It is only a question of giving them direction," she said.

With the human genome map, it is expected that companies which can use the genetic knowledge for new drug development, and those which can control microorganisms for drug production, will dominate the future pharmaceutical industry.

Mazumdar said her company was working with the Karnataka government and investment bank ICICI Limited to start a biotech institute to work on drug discoveries, computers and genetics, and human genome research.

"We are going to quickly springboard that into a very strong initiative for biotechnology in India. We are going to focus on research and developing human resources," she added.

Reddy said Indian biotech firms could also collaborate with each other or traditional pharmaceutical companies to develop genome drugs. His company has set up a research and development centre in Hyderabad employing some 35-40 scientists.

Indian scientists also believe India could have another distinct -- and in-built -- advantage as a bio-engineering base.

They say the country's vast gene pool, which includes ancient tribes and races, could provide vital clues to many hereditary diseases, opening up an important avenue of research.

Krishna Ella, managing director of Bharat Biotech, said the research potential for Indian biotech firms was in such niche areas, where they would have a clear advantage over global companies.

This could be leveraged to take a slice of the future global market for genome-based drugs, he added.