PHARMA FORTUNES

By Akash Gupta

ITS STRENGTHS IN PHARMA TECHNOLOGY,AND A WEALTH OF SCIENTIFIC EXPERTISE,HAVE TAKEN THE INDIAN PHARMA SECTOR FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH. HNN EVALUATES OPPORTUNITIES IN THE SECTOR,AND FINDS WHY A CAREER IN PHARMA COULD BE JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED

Ever since mankind was forced to come to terms with the fragility of human life, it has been consumed with conquering it. Is it any wonder then, that billions of dollars each year are pumped into the research and development of drugs to combat death, disease or aging?

Pharmacy has come a long way. After centuries of succumbing to plagues, poxes, or even the common cold, breakthroughs in the pharmaceutical industry have now equipped the world to deal with new strains that threaten a global pandemic every now and then, treat potentially terminal and ordinary illnesses perpetrated by changing lifestyles, or even just ensure good healthcare practices.

THE INDIAN PHARMACEUTICAL SECTOR
The Indian pharmaceutical industry is touted by many as one of the largest of the developing world, and has also gained a reputation for producing high-quality, low-cost generic drugs. “According to the McKinsey Report, Indian Pharma 2015 (Unlocking the potential of the Indian pharma market), the Indian pharmaceutical industry is growing in leaps and bounds with a CAGR of 13 per cent from 2002 to 2007, and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 16 per cent over 2007 to 2011,” reveals Pradeep Vaishnav, Senior Director, Aventis Pharma Limited (Group sanofiaventis), Mumbai, adding, “The industry is on the global radar now, more than ever, with India being viewed as the most sought-after destination for pharma activities, primarily research and development, and clinical research.” India’s prominent position in the world pharmaceutical sector can be credited, in part, to her mastery over pharma engineering technology, and reverse engineering of patented drug molecules.

Vaishnav goes on to add, “Many multinational, pharmaceutical companies are here, seeking India’s high level of scientific expertise and large pool of English-speaking talent. Besides, India still maintains its stronghold in contract manufacturing, which has further widened the scope of opportunities available in the pharmaceutical industry. Additionally, the concept of pharmaceutical retail chains has gained momentum in recent years, and has created numerous employment opportunities in the sector.”

PHARMA FORAYS
The demand for a skilled workforce to power this sector, now presents unprecedented employment opportunities for aspirants.

Research and development
Research and development has several areas. According to Prabir Jha, Global Chief, HR, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd, Hyderabad, the area a student chooses within R&D, depends on his interest and passion. He says, “On one level, he can work in drug discovery, which is discovery of a new molecule. R&D can pertain to the development of generic products, analytical R&D, API (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients) or bulk drugs R&D, or development of formulations, all of which have their own super specialisations.”

Sanjay Muthal, Managing Director, Nugrid Consulting predicts, “NCE or discovery research for a New Chemical Entity is a very promising area. There is a lot of reverse brain drain in this space, and we are able to attract people from the US and UK to pursue research here.” This area therefore offers an opportunity to work with the best minds from across the world.

“R&D can also deal with drug delivery, which can be in the form of a tablet, capsule or injection,” explains Professor R N Saha, Professor of Pharmacy, and Dean, Education Development Division, BITS-Pilani. He elaborates, “While meat is considered food, you cannot consume it in its raw form. You have to cook it. Similarly, you need to consume drugs through the correct delivery. There are also tremendous opportunities in this area.”

Quality control
Quality control is a very critical function of the pharmaceutical industry. Besides researching and developing new drugs, there is also a need to ensure that drugs can be marketed as those that produce results, which are safe, consistent and predictable. Considering the pace at which this sector is producing better, more effective drugs, there is also a need for more accurate and sophisticated analytical methods to aid their evaluation.

Manufacturing
Manufacturing pertains to actual production of the drug. “In manufacturing, an aspirant can either be involved in API manufacturing, while someone with a pharmacy background, can also build a career in manufacturing formulations,” explains Jha.

Clinical research
Screening of drugs involves testing new drugs or formulations on animal models, or conducting clinical research, which is essentially human testing. Prof Saha reveals, “Clinical research has recently witnessed a lot of international interest, with foreign companies coming to India to conduct clinical research.”

Regulation
Pharma is a regulated industry the world over, and professionals, who can manage regulatory affairs, are in high demand. “You can’t sell drugs like you sell anything else. Regulation is essentially a government affair, and it is an art and science to keep abreast of all the regulatory norms in the country,” declares Jha.

However, Prof Saha clarifies, “The regulatory sphere is not just a government sphere. For instance, if a company wants to market its product in the US, then they have to go by USFDA (United States Food and Drug Association) guidelines. For this, they will have advisors within the company, as well.”

Registered pharmacist
Unlike, pharmacies and pharmacists in India, pharmacists abroad have a very important role. It is because of this gap that needs to be bridged that Prof Saha believes this area offers innumerable opportunities. “Pharmacists abroad are called registered pharmacists. Just like a doctor would require a licence to practice medicine, they require a licence to practice pharmacy. They have to pass a test and register,” asserts Saha, adding, “This is a very lucrative job abroad and offers a very high salary. When patients take a doctor’s prescription to the pharmacy, the pharmacist will determine if everything seems in order. If he feels there has been an error in the prescription, he has the authority to call the doctor and tell him so, and also request him to make a change.”

The Pharmacy Council of India has started a six-year programme, PharmD, to provide training in this discipline.

Sales and marketing
Medical representatives or sales people must interact with physicians to promote new drugs or formulations. “A person with a background in pharmacy, an MBA, or even qualifications within the science stream, can pursue a career in sales and marketing,” offers Jha.

Muthal avers, “Marketing is extremely important in the pharmaceutical sector. A marketing professional deals with selling, competition mapping, and determining which product has more potential and the strategy for the product. He should ideally have a BPharm with an MBA degree.”

CRAM
CRAM or Customer Research and Manufacturing is a booming area. “Because of cost cuts, many foreign pharma companies outsource their manufacturing to India. Before this, their assets in India get USFDA approved, after they are brought up to the prescribed standard,” affirms Jha.

PUBLIC SECTOR POTENTIAL
Though there are PSUs like Hindustan Antibiotics and Indian Drug and Pharmaceuticals (IDPL), ‘they are not in very good shape’, according to Prof Saha. He adds, “Pharma students can also work with NGOs involved in public health, like with the Rural Health Commission.”

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES
According to Vaishnav, there are opportunities across the spectrum for support functions like finance, supply chain, human resources, IT and legal, for which formal education in the respective domains is required. Prof Saha says, “All good companies have a legal unit, with professionals, who determine whether a drug the company is planning to develop is patentable.”

DO YOU MAKE THE CUT?
“It always helps if someone in marketing or sales has a background in pharma but it is not essential. Doctorates are hired at all levels. There may be a few BPharm students in R&D, but most are absorbed in the manufacturing division,” details Jha.

Muthal adds, “In the manufacturing area, MTech chemical engineers do well. The race for talent is so intense, that jobs for medical representatives are open to BComs and BAs, although they have to be given an orientation once they join.”

Although, opportunities are available right after a BPharm, MPharm students are obviously better equipped, and in fact, students themselves prefer to look for jobs only after they complete their MPharm.

REMUNERATION
Depending on one’s qualifications, the institute, and the company that is hiring, a postgraduate can expect a minimum of two to three lakh per annum, according to Jha, or even over nine lakh per annum, according to Prof Saha.

BITTER PILL?
From a financial analyst’s point of view, the pharma sector is called a defensive sector. Although at the micro level, the global economic meltdown will have repercussions, Jha says there is no real turbulence expected.

Muthal says, “The pharma sector has never gone berserk on the prices of medicines, and medicines are fairly affordable in India. As a result, the pharma industry does not have any flab, which in a downturn, you require to shed.”

INSTITUTE WATCH

Mumbai University Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai (www.udct.org)
Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani (www.bits-pilani.ac.in)
Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi (www.bitmesra.ac.in)
Bombay College of Pharmacy, Mumbai (www.bcpindia.org)
SNDT Women’s University, C U Shah College of Pharmacy, Mumbai (http://sndtdigitaluniversity.ac)
Institute of Pharmaceutics, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi (www.bhu.ac.in)
K M Kundnani College of Pharmacy, Mumbai (www.kmkcp.com)
MET Institute of Pharmacy, Mumbai (www.met.edu)
NMIMS University, Mumbai (www.nmims.edu)
National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) (www.niper.gov.in) - only PG courses