New Delhi: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has transferred three indigenously developed biomedical technologies to Indian pharmaceutical and vaccine manufacturers for further development and commercialisation, marking a significant step towards affordable healthcare and self-reliance in medical innovation.
The technology transfers, facilitated under the Medical Innovations Patent Mitra initiative, include SHetA2, a novel anti-HPV therapeutic candidate for treating Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN), which has been licensed to Emcure Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Two next-generation vaccine technologies targeting enteric bacterial infections, developed by ICMR–National Institute for Research in Bacterial Infections (ICMR-NIRBI), Kolkata, have been licensed to Biological E Ltd.
According to ICMR, SHetA2 has been developed through a collaboration between ICMR-National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research (ICMR-NICPR) and the Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma, USA. The therapeutic candidate is designed to selectively eliminate HPV-induced precancerous and cervical cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue, offering the potential for a safer and minimally invasive treatment option.
The two vaccine technologies include a next-generation typhoid vaccine candidate based on Salmonella typhi outer membrane protein and a recombinant vaccine designed to provide broader protection against Salmonella typhi, Salmonella paratyphi and Shigella infections.
Department of Health Research Secretary and ICMR Director General Dr. Rajiv Bahl said the transfers reflect the organisation’s commitment to translating publicly funded research into products that improve health outcomes. He said initiatives such as Medical Innovations Patent Mitra are strengthening collaboration between researchers and industry, helping accelerate the journey from scientific discovery to commercial application.
ICMR said the technology licensing underscores the growing strength of India’s biomedical innovation ecosystem by supporting indigenous development, intellectual property protection, regulatory facilitation and commercialisation of healthcare technologies, with the goal of delivering affordable, high-quality medical solutions in India and globally.
