The raging pandemic has devastated many lives and caused immense hardship. However, with the synergistic efforts of our researchers, industrialists and entrepreneurs, the country could bring solutions like RT-PCR test kits, COVID vaccines, PPE kits, masks, etc. in record time. The country has not only met the domestic supply of vaccines, but has also contributed to the global demand for vaccinations against COVID-19, earning India the title of “Pharmacy of the World” and positioning India as a “reliable nation” when it comes to global health crises like pandemics.
As the nation prepares for its Amrit Kaal, the time has come to reframe the aspirations of the pharmaceutical and medical device sectors. For India to become a global leader, the next step is to move towards innovation, champion new ideas and improve the healthcare ecosystem. The country has demonstrated many of these traits during the pandemic by producing the Covid-19 vaccine, diagnostic kits sourced from domestic companies like Bharat Biotech and Mylab Discovery Solutions in collaboration with government bodies like ICMR, DST, DBT & TDB.
Go ahead, government. of India has adopted a proactive, future-ready solutions-driven approach that focuses on large-scale, high-quality manufacturing of healthcare products. Needless to say, TDB played a key role as an enabler for the entire ecosystem. Today almost all the big companies in healthcare i.e. M/s Shantha Biotech (manufacturer of India’s first vaccine i.e. Hepatitis B) and Bharat Biotech, Biocon, Ranbaxy, Biological E, Gland Pharma, Panacea Biotech, Virchow Biotech, Stride Acrolab, Mylab Discovery etc., have been financially supported by TDB for setting up their project infrastructure.
To further strengthen the Indian healthcare sector, the Technology Development Council is supporting M/s Kriya Medical Technologies Private Limited, Chennai for the development and commercialization of a direct saliva sampling kit. TDB entered into an agreement to provide Rs. 4 crores loan assistance out of a total project cost of Rs. 9 million crowns. The company intends to manufacture and commercialize a molecular transport medium (MTM) saliva collection kit that will enhance the molecular diagnosis of infectious diseases and cancer screening. MTM allows the laboratory to skip the RNA isolation protocol and facilitates DNA isolation. The current conventional method of collecting viral pathogens, VTM, keeps the virus alive during laboratory handling.
The company’s new media inactivates the virus at the time of collection, preventing the accidental spread of infection inherent in conventional VTM. In addition, this new technique aims to improve both testing coverage and patient comfort during the sample collection process. MTM does not require the sample to be stored under strict temperature conditions during transport. The KRIYA collection kit relies on self-collection, which allows for significantly better transport of samples from remote/rural areas and is less invasive compared to nasopharyngeal swabs.
KRIYA is led by Anuradha Moturi with the aim of bringing world-class cutting-edge
At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, KRIYA came up with India’s first ICMR approved home nasopharyngeal swab collection kit along with an innovative safe viral molecular transport medium. The company has successfully produced kits and supported government hospitals and leading laboratory chains during times of international crisis. KRIYA is led by Anuradha Moturi with the aim of bringing world-class cutting-edge healthcare technology to India and other emerging markets. KRIYA aims to create an ecosystem of medical solutions that integrate diagnostic devices with digital platforms to target high-frequency and serious diseases, ultimately elevating basic healthcare access to marginalized markets.
Sh. Rajesh Kumar Pathak, Secretary, IP&TAFS, TDB said, “Time and again, India has proven its ability to deliver innovative solutions when it is most needed. There couldn’t be a better time for companies and start-ups to come up with more such innovative technologies at an affordable price. The decade has been termed as ‘Techade’ which will provide the needed boost to India’s innovation sector through self-reliance among private entities and leveraging grassroots power, true to the motto of Hon’ble Prime Minister Jai Anusandhan.
