The Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI) established in 1965, represents the research-based pharmaceutical companies in India. OPPI remains committed to supporting the nation’s healthcare objectives and collaborating with all stakeholders to find sustainable solutions. OPPI believes the need for innovation must be balanced with the necessity for more accessible medicines, within a robust IP environment.
Dr. Girish Sahni (born 2nd March, 1956) has been Director General of the Council of Scientific Research (CSIR) since 2015. Earlier, since 2005 he was the Director of Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), a CSIR- India biotech institution. He did his B.Sc. Hons. and M.Sc. Hons from Panjab University, Chandigarh, and Ph. D. from the prestigious Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.
Before joining IMTECH, and CSIR, in 1991, he pursued Post -doctoral Research in various prestigious Institutions in the USA including Univ. of California, Santa Barbara, CA; Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York and the Rockefeller Univ., New York, USA, where he was also Adjunct Faculty.
Dr. Girish Sahni, has been a pioneer in translating, and helping others translate, science into world-class biotechnology in the country. Since the 1990’s, Dr. Sahni and his group at IMTECH have developed four generations of an important life-saver protein drug, streptokinase, that is used as ‘clot buster’ in many cardiac and circulatory diseases.
Dr. Girish Sahni’s scientific contributions towards affordable healthcare in the country by successfully developing four generations of Streptokinase, a life-saver, essential thrombolytic (clot buster) drug for the first time in the country for treating cardiac diseases such as heart attacks is an outstanding example of translational science for societal good.
The development of indigenous technologies for the first time in India caused a sharp reduction in prices from Rs 5000 per vial to less than Rs 1000 of Streptokinase.
An estimate of the societal economic impact of IMTECH’s clot busters has been calculated to be around Rs. 20000 Crores (US $ 4 billion).
India’s first patented bio-therapeutic product (Clot Specific Streptokinase) invented by Dr. Sahni’s group is now in human Phase II trials. Its introduction into india and world markets is expected in 2018 and will provide a world-class drug at affordable prices.
As Director of IMTECH for nearly a decade Dr. Sahni helped transition this institution to a front-line position where the complete value-chain for translation of science (Lab-to-Pilot Plant-to- industry/clinic) has been established for the first time in a Public Sector Lab in Biotechnology in the country. He also set up a one-of-its kind, the G. N. Ramachandran Protein Science Centre, holistically dedicated to Protein technologies in India.
As CSIR Director General since August, 2015, , and DSIR Secretary to the Govt. of India, Dr. Sahni is striving to refocus this great organization towards its original national mandate, namely using first-grade scientific knowledge to provide technological and sustainable solutions to the various extremely challenging problems facing the country and its Common Man.
Dr. Sahni has received many awards, for example, The Vasvik Industrial award, O.P. Bhasin award, Ranbaxy award, CSIR Technology Shield, DBT Govt of India award for Process Development, Vigyan Ratan award of Panjab University etc, and is a Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy (INSA), India Academy of Science (IASc., Bangalore) and the National Academy of Science (NASI, Allahabad).
Prof Akkinepally is Director, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), SAS Nagar, Punjab. He has more than three decades of teaching and research experience in the field of Pharmaceutical Sciences. His areas of interests are Anticancer drug design (aromatase inhibitors in breast cancer therapy), Antiasthma Agents (Adenosine antagonists) and Drug delivery (ADEPT & Prodrug Strategies)
Prof Akkinepally started his career with Kakatiya University to become the Principal & Head, University College of Pharmaceutical Sciences; Dean, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chairman, Board of Studies in Pharmacy. He has also been the Director, Central Animal House, Panjab University and has held various positions abroad.
Academically, Prof Akkinepally is a Ph.D and a gold medalist in M. Pharm from Andhra University. He is the recipient of many national and international awards. He has published several research journals, reviews and books.
Dr. Ramesh Panchagnula, the Managing Director of Nektar Therapeutics India Pvt. Ltd, a biopharmaceutical company, holds a DSc in Pharmaceutical Science from University of Glasgow, UK and a Ph.D in Pharmaceutics & Drug Delivery Systems from University of Cincinnati, USA. He was in academics for 20 years (USA, UK and India). He held positions of leadership in R&D and manufacturing at Pfizer then the MD of Nektar India. Ramesh has more than 25 years of research experience in Pharmaceutics, Drug Delivery/modified release systems (Small and large molecules) and Pharmaceutical Sciences and also has an extensive background in management. Dr. Panchagnula also has four patents and more than 260 publications to his credit.
Prof. K G Akamanchi is Professor of Pharmaceutical Technology at the Institute of Chemical Technology, Matunga, Mumbai, an Elite Institute of Government of Maharashtra. He was the former head of Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, and Dean of Research, Consultancy and Resource Mobilisation. He is associated with industry as a consultant and Independent director on the board of leading API manufacturing company. He was an academic council member of University of Mumbai and member of Board of studies of several Universities. He is the Fellow of Maharashtra Academy of Science. Recipient of Best Teacher award from M/s. Gharda Chemicals Ltd given at the Institute of Chemical Technology ten years ago. He has developed technologies for the manufacture of API some of which are commercialised. Has a good number of Patents to his credit. Guided more than 50 Ph.D. students and has over 100 research publications in reputed international journals.
Dr. Welling is Advisor to President-Shri Vile Parle Kelavani Mandal (SVKM) & Chancellor-Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), Mumbai, India. He was Pro-Vice Chancellor of SVKM’s NMIMS University. He was earlier Director, Board of College & University Development & also I/c Registrar, University of Mumbai. He was also Principal of prestigious colleges like K.J. Somaiya College of Science & Commerce, Mithibai College of Arts, Science and Commerce and Narsee Monjee College of Commerce & Economics, Mumbai.
Dr. Welling was conferred ‘Best Teacher Award’ for the year 2002-2003 by the Government of Maharashtra.
Dr. Welling has developed an index, which is used by Industry and researchers in the field of Home Science and Social Sciences. This index is well-known as “Welling’s Index”.
