Varaprasad Reddy’s Three-Pronged Vaccination Strategy on AMR
How do you view the challenge of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in the context of past and current global health battles?
AMR is an inevitable new challenge for humanity, much like the diseases we’ve faced and overcome in the past, including smallpox, plague, and more recently, COVID-19. The cycle of emerging viruses and the development of vaccines to combat them is ongoing. However, the real emerging threat now lies in bacterial infections. Our past successes give us hope that we can tackle this challenge too, with a keen understanding and adaptability to the evolving landscape of infectious diseases.
Can you outline your proposed approach to combating AMR?
Certainly. The fight against AMR should be based on a three-pronged strategy: Vaccination, Therapeutics, and Diagnostics. In therapeutics, we’re looking at using nanotechnology for precise drug delivery and exploring immunomodulators to regulate the immune system. Monoclonal antibodies are also promising, as they are target-specific and attack only the affected cells. In diagnostics, nanotechnology plays a crucial role in enhancing accuracy and efficiency, allowing for early detection and point-of-care testing. These strategies, when combined, form a comprehensive approach to effectively combat AMR.
What are your thoughts on the current state of Research and Development (R&D) in India, especially in relation to AMR?
The R&D landscape in India, especially compared to other countries, is concerning. Unlike in many countries where R&D begins in universities and is then scaled up by the industry, Indian universities are not contributing to industrial R&D. The funding for R&D in India is disproportionately low compared to countries like the US. This scarcity of funding, ignorance of the policymakers and incentives dissuades private players from embarking on R&D projects.
Initially, product patents had no procedural restrictions, akin to baking a cake with different methods. This flexibility enabled their company to produce a vaccine affordable to the common man. However, the introduction of the GATT-TRIPs agreement, which according to him, purely a political move, transformed patent rules, restricting the scope of human innovation. The shift from ‘Product Patenting’ to ‘Process Patenting’ has limited the scope of human innovation, which could potentially impact the fight against AMR.
In light of these challenges, what opportunities do you see for combating AMR?
Despite these challenges, AMR presents a potential opportunity. I urge companies to focus on innovative solutions like Immuno modulation, Zerome sequencing, and Bio-sensors. Considering India’s leadership in vaccine production, we have a model for success that can be replicated in the fight against AMR. It’s crucial for major players to step forward in this battle, much like India’s triumph in vaccine production.
