The Impressive TimesFaridabad, June 10, 2025- In a significant push to advance India’s capabilities in biopharmaceutical research, the Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) organized a one-day symposium focused on the “Discovery and Development of Monoclonal Antibody (mAb) Therapeutics” at its Faridabad campus. The event brought together a vibrant mix of scientific minds, industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators from academia, startups, Contract Research and Development Manufacturing Organizations (CRDMOs), and funding agencies including BIRAC and the Wadhwani Foundation.
The gathering spotlighted India’s emerging strength in the monoclonal antibody space—a field vital to precision medicine, vaccine development, and treatment of complex diseases. At a time when global focus is shifting toward biologics, India is working to strengthen its indigenous research ecosystem through collaboration, innovation, and supportive policy frameworks.
Opening the event, Prof. Jayanta Bhattacharya, Dean at THSTI, underscored the importance of initiating deep collaborations between industry and academia right from the earliest stages of research. “This synergy,” he said, “can lead to breakthrough therapies that are not just cutting-edge, but also cost-effective and made in India.”
Prof. G. Karthikeyan, Executive Director of THSTI, emphasized the role of public policy and strategic partnerships in shaping the mAb development landscape. He proposed the formation of dedicated clusters to bring academia and industry together under one roof, creating innovation zones that support both R&D and workforce training.
A key policy perspective was delivered by Dr. Alka Sharma, Senior Adviser at the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), who outlined the government’s Bio-E3 initiative (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment & Employment). She noted the initiative’s goal to boost biotechnological self-reliance by backing platforms like monoclonal antibodies. These efforts aim to reduce import dependence, promote equitable access to critical therapies, and foster India’s position as a global biologics hub.
The symposium featured an impressive lineup of technical sessions that explored:
Next-Generation Discovery Tools: From B-cell cloning techniques (Prof. Bhattacharya, THSTI) to AI-driven drug design (Dr. Aridni Shah, Immunito AI), researchers unveiled cutting-edge approaches transforming antibody development.
Innovative mAb Development: Presenters from Syngene, Aurigene, IIT-Bombay, and SPARC shared insights on antibody architecture, manufacturability, immunization strategies, and drug conjugates.
Emerging Horizons: Talks also included the use of Circular RNA to democratize mAb access (Dr. Anand Khedkar, Sekkei Bio) and AI-driven design frameworks reshaping drug discovery.
The event concluded with a dynamic panel discussion titled “Accelerating Discovery and Early Development of Indigenous Therapeutic Solutions under Bio-E3”, where experts explored policy, funding, and collaborative models to bring affordable mAbs to market faster.
By facilitating such multidisciplinary engagement, THSTI is helping lay the foundation for India’s next wave of therapeutic breakthroughs—driving not just scientific innovation, but also economic empowerment and public health advancement.
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