The rapid exchange of information enabled by swiftly evolving technologies has transformed lifestyles irrespective of geographies. Despite bearing great benefits, it has also led to an acceleration of communicable and non-communicable diseases. The emergence of Covid-19 pandemic is the most recent example of the same.
So, what does this entail for the global pharmaceutical industry?We talked to Sanjeev Nanda, MD of PharmAid LTD, to gain some insights into the way ahead for pharmaceuticals with respect to innovation and advancement. According to him, the need of the hour is innovative pharma solutions that cater to the need of healthy living, and are a product of academic research backed by industrial contemplation.
“Pharmaceuticals today are dealing with unprecedented scrutiny, which makes it imperative to reflect on the challenges that may lie ahead of us. The recent pandemic has been a wakeup call for industries across the globe to change course. Pharma is no different. We live in a constantly evolving world, and therefore it is important to take the evolution into account while striving for evolution in treatments,” says Sanjeev Nanda.
He continues, “While we talk about climate change, we often forget about the change in the ecology of pathogens that it is bringing about. When we talk about the changes in human gastronomy, we neglect to take into account the way metabolic diseases have changed too. We talk about changes in human lifestyle and attitude, but we often overlook the impact these changes have on life expectancy. This is what we need to address.”
In the opinion of Sanjeev Nanda, the emergence of new ailments and the re-emergence of previously eradicated diseases is all an impact of the rapid pace at which established ecosystems are changing. According to him, the future of pharma innovations must be dedicated to effectively combat the health challenges posed by the swiftly changing psychological, social and environmental scenarios.
“What we need now is to develop pharmaceutical solutions that are innovative and therapeutic in nature. As the nature and geography of disease continues to change, we need solutions that extend beyond the current horizons of knowledge and technology. We need to move beyond the conventions, so that the future generations can live in a secure, healthy world,” says Sanjeev Nanda.