CSIR develops antibiotic for drug-resistant bacteria, indigenous formula for Paracetamol

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has reported important breakthroughs, which include development of an anti-biotic to fight drug-resistant bacteria, indigenous formula for manufacturing paracetamol, a widely used pain reliever, among others.

Science and technology minister Dr Jitendra Singh announced this while speaking at a function to mark the 40th Foundation Day of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR). 

Further, he said CSIR also carried out the first ever successful trial of gene therapy for treating blood disorder haemophilia. 

These innovations will help the country reduce dependence on imports for drug ingredients and raw materials, which aligns with the Narendra Modi government’s vision of self-reliance.

The indigenously developed antibiotic, Nafithromycin, is useful in the treatment of both atypical and typical drug-resistant bacteria, Dr Jitendra Singh said.

The 40th DSIR Foundation Day celebration marked 16 technology transfers from CSIR to MSMEs. The technologies transferred included nine from CSIR-CSIO, Chennai and six from CSIR-CEERI, Pilani. These were part of the technology transfer from CSIR to MSME units registered under Laghu Udyog Bharati under the `100 days, 100 technology’ campaign.

So far 57 such technology transfers have been successfully carried cut by CSIR labs to MSME units under the 100-day programme.

The paracetamol technology has been transferred to Karnataka-based Satya Deeptha Pharmaceuticals Ltd, which will now produce affordable paracetamol domestically, without having to import any input orvraw material.

The CSIO technologies are in the area of design and development of scientific and industrial instruments with IoT enabled technologies, while CEERI technologies are in the area of healthcare. 

CSIO also signed an MoU with ELCIA, Bengaluru for collaboration in the development of sensors.

Besides, Dr Jitendra Singh said CSIR has succeeded in the development of 108 petal Lotus, hydrogen bus, biofuels, facilitating Lavender cultivation, among others.