Address at the Inauguration of R & D Facility and Human Vaccine Plant at the Indian Immunologicals Ltd

PREVENTIVE HEALTH CARE: NEW APPROACHES

I am delighted to participate in the inaugural function of the R & D facility and Human Vaccine Plant in the Indian Immunologicals Ltd. My greetings to the Chairman-NDDB, Managing Director-IIL, scientists, engineers, technicians and staff of this organization! IIL has achieved large experience of animal vaccine research and production, this will provide many unique inputs for the development and production of human vaccine and other biotechnology products required in the emerging field of cellular medicine.

Combination Human Vaccine

The new indigenous facility for manufacture of various human vaccines, such as Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus (DPT), recombinant Hepatitis-B, hepatitis A and measles, conforming to international GMP standards, will be a valuable addition to human immunology. The utilization of the capacity of the plant would facilitate availability of affordable products in this part of the world. There is a need to reduce the number of times a child is administered vaccines as part of the immunization programme. It needs detailed clinical research and multi centric trials for a combination vaccine. The combination vaccine would require a new delivery system to be developed and produced. Since IIL already have core-competence and experience in this area, I am sure it will go through these efforts to make a single combination vaccine possible.

I find that the R & D Division of IIL has number of collaborative projects with various national and international institutions and laboratories. The collaborative work on DNA vaccine with Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and partnership of other institutions both within the country and abroad would definitely accelerate the quality of vaccines for various types of Immunologicals protection.

Vision for healthcare

A report on "Health Care in India" has been prepared by a panel of leading doctors and medical technologists in the country. It provides a focus on the typical problems faced by India for two decades in the health care and possible solutions. The expert team has identified three major infections, namely, tuberculosis, HIV and water-borne diseases that would be of great concern to the public health. Methods to combat these diseases have to be found during the next few years. We should see how the advancement in technology could be put to use to improve the health care system of the country. Such an effort will make cost effective medical technology and devices available and accessible to all the citizens of our country. Consequently, this will contribute for nation's progress through people with strong body and sound mind.

The Vision of providing affordable and effective healthcare to our entire population goes much beyond the capability of any individual, institution or organisation. Technology is an important tool to give fast healthcare and we have to use it. This vision has to become multi-organisational missions leading to the generation of thousands of Goal oriented projects. These projects will have to be supported and nurtured not only by the Government, but also by our industry and philanthropic organisations.

We have seen success of many multi-organisational projects in the past, particularly, in the medical field. The most important ingredient of these multi-organisational missions has been a decentralized leadership with proper linkages. For example the academic institutions which do research on various technological systems, will have to be provided tools for medical diagnostics and clinical management. They then feed their knowledge to the industries which in turn productionise cost effective medical products. The wealth generated through such collaborative effort can be used to adopt nearby villages for medical care coupled with education. IIL already have partnership with R&D labs and industries for developing new breed of immunological products. It can be used to provide a role model for such an effort.

Foods as vehicles for human vaccines

Keeping in view the importance of vaccination in eradication of diseases in humans and animals, a novel approach for developing improved vaccines using genetically modified plants, has emerged. Genetically engineered plants are used for producing immunogenic peptides which provides a new approach of oral delivery of a plant based subunit vaccine. Experimental edible vaccines for a few diseases have been developed and tested for efficacy in animal and human trials globally. Food crops have the potential to play a vital role in promoting preventive health care by serving as vehicles for production as well as delivery of vaccines. IIL can consider adopting this concept in future research areas. Researchers have to convincingly propagate genetically modified plants and application of vaccine element through food.

Conclusion

National Dairy Development Board has provided for the nation, through cooperative movement, one of the best nutrients that is milk. Throughout the country milk as a most comprehensive and cost effective nutrient is available. The higher the nutrient level reach particularly for children, their immunological response against infections gets reinforced. For me it is very interesting to see the same NDDB which is progressing availability of nutrient milk is also progressing the vaccine development for resisting various infections. Protecting one billion people against infections by supporting their immune system is a great task. This can be done by developing a cost effective combination vaccine against most prevalent infections and making available natural nutrients to reinforce body's own immunity. An integrated research on human immunology response of vaccines suitably supplemented by nutrient holds great promise.

I wish all success to the Indian Immunologicals Ltd. for their new ventures.