Experts from Drug Control Department from government of India, pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry came together to discuss and deliberate on various current key areas of focus in the industry.

The topic discussion ranged from challenges and developments in aseptic processing, manufacture of biosimilars, to current regulatory and manufacturing trends and advancements in vaccine manufacturing technologies. The event witnessed about thirty speakers and panelists from India and abroad, along with senior officials from the regulatory agencies.

Dr B R Jagashetty, Drugs Controller of Karnataka and guest of honor for the event, in his address said that Drug Control Department of Karnataka (DCDK) has taken a step ahead in investing and upgrading the drug control testing labs in order to make them equivalent to, or better than, any private testing labs.

Lectures were also delivered by fourteen eminent professionals and subject matter experts (SMEs) from India and abroad on topics related to current trends, processes and regulations for the pharmaceutical and biotech Industry.

Mr H S Dayananda, head, Biopharm Process Solutions, Merck Millipore India, said, "The Web of Process & Regulatory Trends conference has continually gained the respect of the Indian regulatory as well as the industry, since its inception in 2002. It is regarded as a forum that promotes professional excellence, training and interaction between shop-floor and operating personnel, middle management, CEOs, pharmacists and regulators from within and outside India."

He further said, "Merck Millipore aspires to offer similarly unique opportunities that benefit the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry in the years to come."

Participants from over 140 senior and middle management professionals from various departments such as quality assurance, quality control, validation, manufacturing, regulatory, formulation R&D, projects and tech transfer graced the event with their presence. These professionals hailed from reputed companies including Biocon, Lupin, Intas, Dr Reddy's, Gland Pharma, Strides, Mylan, Cipla, Serum Institute, Kemwell and Hindustan Lever Limited.

The panel discussions were chaired by leaders from the industry who shared their knowledge and experience with the participants. In conjunction with the latest trends and expectations of the industry, sessions related to flexible manufacturing and E&L generated lot of interest and lengthy interactions between the audience and the panelists.

One of the guest lecturers, Dr Purvish Parikh, an international clinical researcher and recipient of National Citizen Award from Government of India spoke about establishing clinical comparability of Biosimilars. He impressed upon the audience the need for affordable medicines and hence, Biosimilars being the path ahead

Another guest lecturer, Dr John Purves, a lifescience consultant, ex-EMA and ex-EHRA regulator, highlighted the legislative basis on which Biosimilar medicinal products in Europe were founded, and indicated the direction for future strategies.