National policy on R&D in Pharma-Medtech to propel entrepreneurship: Dr S Narasimha Murthy

National policy on R&D in Pharma-Medtech to propel entrepreneurship

The National Policy on R&D and Innovation in Pharma-Medtech sector will provide immense scope for entrepreneurship, and novel treatment approaches for the unmet medical needs, said Dr S Narasimha Murthy, founder- director, Institute for Drug Delivery and Biomedical Research (IDBR).

To this end, IDBR foresees a lot of emphasis on research and innovation in the future years. Developing the manpower with the required skill set to meet the demand in the pharmaceutical research domain would be crucial for the future. Particularly, with the new national policy on Research & Development and Innovation in the Pharma-Medtech sector, there would be a lot of scope for originality, entrepreneurship, and novel treatment pathways, he added.

In this direction, the IDBR has several ongoing initiatives. The Institute conducts hands-on workshops and training programs for graduates, and provides opportunities to perform research as interns, and students, and collaborates with educational institutions and research entities, said Dr Murthy.

Currently, several novel areas of drug delivery and biomedical research are being explored at IDBR. Microneedle technology has been introduced to deliver drugs into the back of the eye for the treatment of macular degeneration, topical delivery technologies for the treatment of psoriasis, metallic nanoparticles for theranostic applications, future contraceptives, and novel methods of treatment of anemia, infections, and metabolic disorders.