"Govt should facilitate low-interest loans or VC funding specifically for biopharma startups & small enterprises"

"In a recent development, Nagpur-based biotech company GeNext Genomics (GNG) has joined -hands with Merck Life Science to support the Indian biotech system, particularly in the area of biomanufacturing, which is garnering more attention after the approval of the BioE3 policy.Supriya Kashikar, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, GeNext Genomics shares her views with BioSpectrum on the growth of biomanufacturing sector in India, and how the company plans to play a relevant role in this aspect.

- Dr Manbeena Chawla

What are the key objectives of your recent collaboration with Merck? How will this partnership foster innovation and strengthen India’s position in the global biotech market?

The partnership combines Merck's biomanufacturing systems with GNG's Clone Development and HIND Antibody Library to drive biopharmaceutical innovation and position India as a hub for advanced R&D. The GNG-Merck collaboration creates a unique competitive edge for both companies by integrating local expertise with global biomanufacturing capabilities. Furthermore, Merck's expertise in both Upstream Processing (USP) and Downstream Processing (DSP) will support us in areas of biologics production, optimising cell culture yields, and refining end products to meet international standards.

This partnership is set to innovate and strengthen India’s biotech landscape:

● Platform Processes for Novel mAbs and Other Molecules: With Merck’s advanced bioprocessing systems installed at GNG, we’re positioned to efficiently develop and produce novel monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and other therapeutic molecules. These processes ensure consistent, high-quality products that meet the highest global standards.

● Supporting Clone Development Services from India: With the integration of Merck’s systems into GNG’s Clone Development platform, we’re set to become a go-to provider for scalable clone development services. This will cater to a wide range of biotech firms, both in India and abroad.

● Infrastructure for Startups: Our collaboration creates a solid infrastructure for biotech startups, providing end-to-end support—from process development to clinical-phase production. This ensures that biotech startups in India can focus on innovation while we handle the complexities of scaling up.