NIPER Raebareli and AstraZeneca India Partner to Boost Clinical Research
NIPER Raebareli and AstraZeneca India partner to expand clinical trial sites across 25 emerging Indian geographies to boost research capabilities.
In a significant move to transform India's pharmaceutical landscape, the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Raebareli, and AstraZeneca India have entered into a strategic partnership. This collaboration aims to strengthen the nation's clinical research capabilities by expanding trial sites far beyond major metropolitan hubs into 25 emerging research geographies across India.
Expanding Clinical Trial Footprint
The partnership, signed in the presence of Manoj Joshi, Secretary of the Department of Pharmaceuticals, focuses on building a highly trained workforce and establishing inspection-ready research sites. This initiative is designed to integrate academic excellence with industrial expertise to ensure high-quality clinical data and research standards.
The collaboration is set to follow a structured roadmap:
- Site Assessment: Adopting 25 initial clinical trial sites to evaluate their current capabilities.
- Training and Mentoring: Providing targeted education to researchers and staff.
- Process Strengthening: Enhancing documentation, ethics, safety, and trial feasibility protocols.
- Governance: Implementing robust support processes to ensure global compliance.
Aligning with Biopharma SHAKTI
This partnership directly supports the Government of India’s flagship Biopharma SHAKTI initiative. The government's vision includes establishing 1,000 clinical trial sites across the country to create a robust biopharma ecosystem. By moving research beyond metros, the initiative seeks to tap into regional talent and expand the pool of skilled professionals.
Manoj Joshi, Secretary of the Department of Pharmaceuticals, emphasized that India possesses the talent necessary to play a much larger role in global clinical trials. He noted that this collaboration between government, academia, and industry is essential for advancing national clinical research priorities.
A Scalable Model for the Future
The initiative is intended to serve as a scalable national model. While it begins with a focused group of sites, there is significant potential to expand into more therapeutic areas beyond oncology once the proof-of-concept phase is successfully completed.
Shubhini Saraf, Director of NIPER Raebareli, highlighted that the Centre of Excellence will provide a dedicated platform for structured training and certification. This will create a blueprint for expanding clinical research expertise to other regions and medical fields.
Praveen Rao Akkinepally, Country President and Managing Director of AstraZeneca Pharma India Limited, stated that clinical research is vital for bringing innovative medicines to patients. He noted that the collaboration with NIPER Raebareli and government support aims to build a sustainable, high-quality research ecosystem in India.