First international conference in Clinical Research on oct 16

Mumbai, Oct 14 (UNI) India is pioneering as a hub for pharmaceutical industries and in the next five years, it will transform itself into a major pharma power, Dean&Director of the Institute of Clinical Research (ICRI) Dr S K Gupta said.

Dr Gupta was briefing mediapersons yesterday, on the forthcoming international conference on 'Drug Discovery and Clinical Development in India: Opportunities and Challenges'to be organised in association with the US Drug Information Association (DIA).

The three-day conference, to be held for the first time in India, will see leading global academicians, clinical experts and pharma groups debating finer ethical practice of clinical research from October 16 to 18.

He maintained that ICRI and DIA are non-profit bodies working for the better ethical practice in clinical research across the world.

As a result, the number of Clinical Research Organisations (CRO) in India has risen to 100 from 10 a decade ago.

Assistant Executive Diretcor of DIA, Marlynn Orlando, who was also present, said DIA, which was formed 40 years ago in the United States, plays a pivotal role in exchanging and facilitating ethical research and clinical practice globally.

She stressed that with the leap in globalisation&technology, it has become imperative for DIA to exchange ideas and scientific data with other vital industries and players in the field of medicinal research.

Adding further, Dr Satish Tripathi, Director Worldwide Regulatory Strategy, Pfizer, Inc said ICRI has done tremdous work in the country in imparting education in the sphere of Clincal research.

He added that 90 per cent of the drugs available in India is regulated through the Federal Drug Information Agency(FDIA).

Ironically, ICRI has complete data of the drugs available in the country and its status for further research.

Dr Tripathi also drew attention, that Indian pharma companies are making rapid strides in expanding its global outreach by exporting vital life-saving-drugs to countries in Africa and Latin America.

Appreciating the improving numbers of CRO's in the country, he said Clinical Research will turn into a billion-dollar industry in India in the next few years.

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