Evolution of Therapeutics – “From Adam and Eve to Us”

Man’s search for medicines is as old as his history on earth. Ancient medicines were crude and largely derived from natural sources while current therapeutics are highly refined and designed based on scientific understanding of disease process. Despite this, several human diseases are untreatable either due to lack of effective drugs or due to their side effects. Hence new drug discovery is a continued research effort among pharmaceutical industries. 

New Drug Discovery research has evolved over more than a century. Chemical drugs, discovered several decades ago when medicinal chemistry and pharmacological sciences united. Today’s ultramodern therapeutic platforms of nucleic acids, proteins, antibodies and cellular therapeutics emerged due to progress and convergence of several interdisciplinary biosciences. The process from novel therapeutic ideation, to years of lab research, through extensive human trials, regulatory approvals and final market launch is a herculean task, full of scientific and financial challenges, long gestation period and low success rate. I will share success from few innovative ideas and molecules that crossed above hurdles to become novel medicines with tremendous benefits to patients.

About the Speaker:

Over 24 years of experience in the New Drug Discovery research. Prior to joining Glenmark, worked at Hoechst Marion Roussel (Now Sanofi Avantis) as a Molecular Biologist for ~ 8 years.

Role: Lead a cross functional team of over 150 scientists to discover novel therapeutics in the areas of Inflammation, Chronic Pain, Oncology and Respiratory Diseases.
 
Academic Affiliations: Industry expert and member of M Sc. Biotech Syllabus committee at IIT Mumbai –Biosciences and Bio-engineering Dept (Till current), have been a member of Board of Studies of Department of Biotechnology, NMIMS, Biotech visiting faculty at K M Kundanani College of Pharmacy 

Publications: over 90 published patents (world), 50 international abstracts, over 30 peer reviewed publications / book chapters (Elsevier, Expert Opinion, Trends and Molecular Medicine). 

Presentations: over 15 invited lectures in international forums, a key-note speaker and a panelist in national events related to Innovation in India. 
Education:  Ph.D. in Molecular Biology (BARC) 1991, Masters in Microbiology (1986).