Experts Push for Advancing Indian Labs Through Geo-Political and Tech Innovation

Experts Push for Advancing Indian Labs Through Geo-Political and Tech Innovation

Challenges and Opportunities for Indian Laboratories

At the second edition of the ET Pharma Next-Gen LabCon conference, industry leaders gathered to discuss the future of Indian laboratories amidst shifting global dynamics. The panel, featuring Annaswamy Vaidheesh, Dr. KVS Ram Rao, Akhil Ravi, and Dr. Sauri Gudlavalleti, focused on the challenges and opportunities for Indian labs as they aim to maintain their global standing.

Adapting to Global Demands

Dr. Sauri Gudlavalleti emphasized the need for Indian laboratories to adapt to a much faster pace of work. Key points included:

  • Doubling or tripling the current work rate to meet global demands.
  • Leveraging technological innovation in physical infrastructure and digital tools.

Serving Underserved Customers

Akhil Ravi highlighted the importance of identifying and serving underserved customers. He pointed out:

  • Significant opportunities exist in clinical trials for small molecules.
  • Indian labs should focus on specific skill sets to carve out a niche in the global market.

Geopolitical Landscape and CDMO 2.0

Annaswamy Vaidheesh discussed the global geopolitical landscape and its impact on the pharmaceutical industry:

  • The need for India to focus on CDMO 2.0 amidst ongoing US-China tensions.
  • India’s opportunity to become a reliable alternative in the global supply chain.
  • The challenge posed by a lack of adequate talent in the industry.

Manufacturing Capabilities and AI Adoption

Dr. KVS Ram Rao emphasized the need for Indian laboratories to enhance their manufacturing capabilities:

  • India must improve its capabilities to compete with advanced economies like China.
  • The pharmaceutical sector’s slow adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) poses challenges.

Knowledge Transfer and Mentorship

The panelists also discussed the importance of knowledge transfer and mentorship within the industry:

  • Proposals included apprenticeship programs, electronic lab notebooks, and quality control systems.
  • Emphasis on digitizing records for better data management and accessibility.

Outlook for the Future

The session concluded with an optimistic outlook on the future of Indian laboratories:

  • India is currently in an intermediary stage with much room for growth.
  • The panelists agreed that with the right strategies and investments, Indian laboratories can achieve global leadership in the pharmaceutical industry.