How the Pandemic Has Changed Research

Context: The pandemic has changed the nature of vaccine development which leads to certain opportunities and challenges in the future

Positive Changes in Vaccine Development

• Increased Alliance and Cooperation: The urgency has led to partnerships and alliances between erstwhile rivals; unprecedented levels of government-private co-operation;
  • For E.g. In India, from vaccine producers such as the Serum Institute of India to drug makers like Cipla and Wockhardt have forged multiple partnerships.
  • Saves Time and Efforts: The idea is to break up and parcel out portions of the research and development process so that they can be conducted in parallel to save time.
• The unparalleled concentration of resources: dedicated to the COVID-19 in the form of both researchers and funds.
  • Accessible Data: Research data that was once closely guarded are now put on open platforms so that every scientist across the world has access.
  • Innovative Methodologies: As opposed to the traditional clinics, virtual clinics are being used to avoid the risk of exposure where drugs are couriered to the participants.
• Rising role of India: The western world had largely considered India to be a production hub, and also, good potential geography for clinical trials. 

Side-effects of Changes

• Inefficiency in Research: Regulators around the world are willing to settle for smaller clinical trials and limited data before clearing a drug for emergency use without conducting large scale trials.
  • For, E.g. This was seen when the US FDA cleared Remdesivir for emergency use authorization through participants are still being enrolled for a large-scale efficacy study.
• Neglect of other diseases: Overconcentration of resources in the COVID management and research has impacted the healthcare delivery for diseases like diabetes, cancer, TB, malaria and dengue

Way Forward:

• Striking a balance between research for lifestyle diseases and antivirals: would ensure the long-term sustainability of the pharmaceuticals industry in India
  • In the past, many observers felt that infectious disease research was treated like a step-child by drug companies — now it is the reverse.
• Push towards original drug discovery:
  • Traditionally, Indian companies have not made a mark in original drug or vaccine discovery.
  • Covid-19 could be the spur that pushes them to play higher up in the original drug discovery process.