Panel discussion: Next gen pharma labs: Techniques, technology and adapting to rapid changes to pharma testings

The second-panel discussion on Day 1 of Pharma Lab Next Conclave 2021 was on Next Gen Pharma Labs: Techniques, Technology and Adapting to rapid changes to Pharma Testings. This discussion witnessed leaders and experts come together to chart strategies to implement Good Laboratory Practices and optimise the R&D life cycle management. They shared learnings on ways and methods to enhance R&D productivity in both qualitative and quantitative terms, augment product life-cycle management, strengthen decision-making abilities as well as gain cost and market differentiation. The discussion also touched upon latest trends in impurity profiling/analysis, next-gen lab equipment, building quality assurance programmes, challenges to good laboratory practices, leveraging digital technology for GLP, etc.

The session was moderated by Viveka Roychowdhury, Editor, Express Pharma and Express Healthcare. Dr Pritesh Upadhyay, Senior VP-Analytical Research, Lupin; Dr Shitalkumar Pathak, VP- Head Analytical Research & Development (Formulations), Glenmark Pharmaceuticals; Dr Sandhya Shenoy, Associate VP, FDC; and Sundara Kalyana Balaji, Head-Analytical, Alembic Pharma were the esteemed panelists on this session.

Dr Shenoy said that as organisations are turning towards technology to make their R&D labs and processes more cost-effective, efficacious and compliant. She cited an example of how electronic notebooks are being used at her organisation for better results. Dr Pathak shared key learnings and insights from R&D, regulatory approval and commercialisation of Fabiflu, a key drug in COVID-19 treatment. He also spoke on the challenges of creating safe environments working during the pandemic and how they were tackled by his company. He said that the hybrid R&D operational model is here to stay in the pharma sector. Balaji spoke on how Alembic has dealt with regulators’ concerns on Sartans and other products. He also elaborated on the tech transformations they have implemented in analytical labs to improve lab procedures and techniques. Dr Upadhayay urged the industry to move from a results-oriented approach to a systems-oriented approach to improve outcomes, reduce errors, enhance transparency and enable regulatory compliance.

The experts also pointed out how COVID-19 has highlighted gaps in our current processes and asked the industry to learn from the challenges faced to spur further progress.

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