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The global life sciences research environment is in a constant state of flux due to rapid improvements in reagents, biomaterials, and bioprocessing technology, which are opening up new frontiers in contemporary therapeutics. To meet the growing demands of modern science, biologics, cell and gene therapy, and precision medicine are progressing steadily from the experimental pipeline towards clinical application by using specialized tools, high-quality materials, and advanced manufacturing capabilities.
In the changing global life sciences research environment, the Asia-Pacific region is also emerging as a new hub for biotechnology innovation, driven by robust support from governments, a growing research environment, and sustained strategic investment in the life sciences sector, said Tony Budianto Bee, head of Process Solutions APAC and interim head of Process Solutions India, Merck.
Cell and gene therapies hold significant promise in treating and curing diseases that were once considered untreatable and genetic in nature. Cell and gene therapies correct or replace genes in a patient’s cells to treat disease at the very root. CAR-T cell therapy is one such prominent cell and gene therapy in treating cancer. This therapy utilizes a patient’s immune cells to target and kill cancer cells. Currently, the US FDA has approved 46 cell and gene therapy products as of 2025, he added.
Countries in the Asia-Pacific region are enhancing their contributions to the value chain in cell and gene therapy. Cross-border collaborations have helped organizations leverage each other's expertise, infrastructure, and regulatory expertise to speed up the development and commercialization of cell and gene therapies. Collaborations between Japan, China, South Korea, Australia, and other emerging biotech markets have helped create a common value chain in manufacturing, workforce, and technology. In this new value chain, India is gradually becoming a major contributor to cost-effective manufacturing, Bee told Pharmabiz.
The region has additional advantages such as comparatively low Clinical Trial Costs and access to Large-Numbers of Diverse Patient Populations, while some regulators are streamlining clinical approval processes and enhancing Good Clinical Practice compliance. The demand for key components of Gene Therapies, such as viral vector manufacturing and plasmid DNA manufacturing, is growing rapidly in India. The Indian viral vector market is expected to reach US$ 241.5 million by 2025 and US$ 796.9 million by 2033. Initiatives by the Indian government, including the Bio E-3 Policy, PLI scheme for pharmaceuticals, BIRAC, and the National Biopharma Mission, strengthen the innovation ecosystem further.
India’s push for self-reliance in biotechnology strongly aligns with the strategic direction of Merck. The company’s recent MoU with Japan based Cyto-Facto supports the development and manufacturing of lentiviral vectors used in advanced therapies. The collaboration will focus on supporting manufacturing scale up, along with technical training and process optimization through Merck’s M Lab Collaboration Centres. This will open India’s market access to the APAC region potentially expanding access to advanced manufacturing capabilities for the country’s emerging CGT ecosystem, said Bee.
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