Dhaka, 17 February 2012 Move for becoming the frontiers of Medical Biotechnology in Bangladesh Why Medical Biotechnology in Bangladesh Key Note Speech

IT & BT Two of the most popular words currently talked in our world IT → Information Technology BT → Biotechnology Development experts believe that the power & influence of BT will exceed that of IT by manifolds IT BT

Just in one decade or so ! Our life will be significantly influenced by Biotechnology

The trend has been set already

The trend…

What is Biotechnology?

Body Organ Cell Chromosome DNA

Protein DNA dictates protein synthesis

What is Gene? Gene is the part of DNA which dictates protein synthesis for specific characteristics

Biotechnology applies technique of Genetic Engineering Genetic engineering is a technique for genetic modification through removal, addition or replacement of gene for adding, altering or hiding characteristics in living things

Benefit Remove your Fat Gene

Method of Genetic Engineering Simple Method Interchangeable between species

The way how BT works Production of Golden rice By Gene Engineering

Replacement therapy Insulin

Cloning?

Therapeutic cloning

Human Cloning

BT is cheaper In conventional method, drug development requires yrs Begins with animal trial Ends on trial on human volunteers Trial is not organ or tissue specific → more side effects Requires huge initial investment Patent rights of bigger companies burden smaller industries Pharmaceutical sector Profitable Medical Biotechnology Sector FDA already approved over 1000 GM drugs Insulin Interferon Anti-cancer drugs Growth hormone Blood products

Future of stem cell research Human stem cell-based trial made it possible to discover Anti-tumor drugs Cardiac drugs Artificial blood products

Source of stem cells

What we are seeing now? Many BT drugs BT Medical devices BT Vaccines BT Diagnostic reagents Agriculture & Livestock BT crops, viz., soybean oil May be BT fish Designer meat

Biomass for Biogas & Electricity

Breakthrough in vaccine development It is possible to know exact genetic nature of antigen (microorganism or disease agent) This helps in extraction of purified specific antigen from bacterial/viral protein or alternate source No need to use live attenuated or killed virus/bacteria to produce vaccines GM crops, viz. banana, maize & potato may act as edible vaccines In only 80 hectors of land, hepatitis B vaccine to immunize all the children in the world would be possible Elimination of: costly cold chain & hazards of vaccine-related infections

Individualized medicine We will also see – Every body’s gene is different Every body does not respond to same drug equally Benefits: Less mistakes in doses Lower drug costs Failed drug in one population will work on another population

We will also see – Pre- & post-implant genetic diagnosis Growing popularity of genetic diagnosis & therapy 11 cousins removed stomach [AP; 27 May 2006] Carriers of CDH1 gene A rare mutation Carriers have 70% chance of developing gastric cancer

We will also see – Faster growth of bioinformatics

We will also see – Remarkable growth of nano-medicine

India developed Shanvac-B from herbs with 4-years of research Shanvac-B is a hepatitis B vaccine Previous imports costs: $6 per dose Now sells in India: 50 cents Received WHO certification UNICEF ordered for whole world We will also see – Revisit to indigenous medicine

Research Ample opportunity to conduct BT research Commercially available products: –Stem cell lines for drug development, in- vitro fertilization & cell culture –Recombinant virus or bacteria for testing drug resistance –Plasmids for producing recombinant DNA

Do you know why the global food price was high than any time before? Bio-energy from Spinach Bio-fuels

Medico-legal fact finding Determination of heredity Criminal tracing

Safety of human health & nutrition Safety about environment Loss of natural environment Debate about Biotechnology

BT debate… Patent The Basmati Patent Debate Intellectual property rights?

Ethics Religion Personal privacy Social discrimination BT debate… Embryo cloning! How much to allow ?

Abuse?

Why country can not ignore BT? BT has enough debates Yet almost all countries consider it as one of the most important drivers for economic growth BT attracted substantial investment Mostly in MBT sector This dominance will continue Global BT Revenue

BT in India (Target 2010) Target for employment generation: 1 million

BT in India (current)

BT in India… Investment for BT since 1985: US$ 1b Active BT companies: ~800 Industries on advanced BT: % BT Industries devoted to: –Human health applications: % –Agriculture: % –Industrial, bioinformatics, genomics: %

People better accept bio-pharmaceuticals than BT crops, fisheries or livestock It may have following reasons: –Doctors prescribe medicines –In illness, the side effects become secondary –Belief about rigorous regulatory conditions for drug approval –People can choose from alternate food Why MBT goes on top of BT?

New reality in industrialized countries Migration of opportunities of BT

Migration of opportunities of BT... Country should build good environment If not, there will be brain drain Expansion of quality BT education, research & students’ intake is need of time The benefit will be: –Enough skilled manpower to work in home –Earning of remittances by skilled manpower export Brain-drain vs. export of human resources

Our Bio-Safety Concerns Biotech foods, drugs & other products 1.Import 2.Production 3.Export Concerns Consumption Wide-scale Handling  Chronic exposure Environmental pollution through natural exposure & unsafe disposal

The To-Dos 1.Examine Health & Nutritional safety 2.Examine Environmental safety 3.Create public awareness 4.Build & Enforce Surveillance & Regulatory measures 5.Explore opportunity of application of biotechnology

Component of Regulatory System Permission for BT research License for import of BT drug or diagnostic reagent License for Biotech food License for Biotech lab BT related Disease surveillance Certificate for MBT degree or diploma

Expectations from you Understand & feel Speak & write Influence policy Participate –Production of diagnostic & research kits, vaccines –Research –Genetic diagnosis & therapy Study further Think to take as career

Thank you DNA DANCE