“Research and Development is an essential driver of economic growth”

The Mauritius Institute of Biotechnology Limited (MIBL) is a catalyst for biotechnology development in Mauritius 

“The unprecedented events have taught the Government that, beyond the logistics of securing vaccines and pharmaceutical products, the country requires a rigorous, flexible, and profitable biotechnology sector to foster a culture and a ‘live’ ecosystem of research and development, along with product commercialization,” Dr. Rattan Kumar Gujadhur explains in the Q&A with BIZWEEK, highlighting the significance of the biotechnology industry in Mauritius.

Can you elaborate on the core functions of the Mauritius Institute of Biotechnology Ltd (MIBL)?

The Mauritius Institute of Biotechnology Ltd, coined MIBL, has been instated by Government in 2021 to catalyse the growth of the Biotechnology sector in Mauritius. As the country was in the throes of the COVID pandemic, MIBL was created as a response to learnings and experiences the country had during these testing times. 

The unprecedented events taught the Government that beyond the logistics of securing vaccines and pharmaceutical drugs, the country needed a rigorous, flexible, and profitable biotechnology sector to ferment a culture, and a ‘live’ ecosystem, of research & development and products commercialization. Preparedness, whether it is for navigating an epidemic, a new pandemic or just tackling development challenges in the sector, has become a crucial part of Governments globally.  

The MIBL falls under the aegis of the Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning & Development, and has pioneering leadership in its chairman, the Financial Secretary Mr. D. Manraj, and his high calibre Board. 

In 2022, an international recruitment exercise for a Chief Executive Officer was launched and I was selected after a series of interviews and panel talks. I must say that the creation of such innovative pillars is the perfect opportunity for diaspora, like myself, to return and contribute to the development of our motherland. MIBL now has a growing team of remarkable individuals, all contributing towards initiatives to catalyse the progress of the Biotech sector.

Our key mandate at MIBL is to further develop and grow the biotechnology sector. This includes medical, agricultural, marine, industrial and environmental biotechnology. MIBL also has biotech knowledge and capacity building responsibility. It endorses its mandate through a series of key activities ranging  from financial support and partnering, expansion of the pharmaceuticals and medical devices sectors, development and facilitation of Mauritian-made biotech products through collaboration globally and locally, agricultural techniques, nutraceuticals, ocean-based pharmacy, support for circular economy projects involving biotech, and analytical testing capabilities. In brief, our intent is to propel the biotech sector via a range of projects, small, medium and large.

Could you share some of the key achievements of MIBL as at now?

I am pleased to share that despite its ‘newly established’ status, MIBL has in its portfolio a number of key achievements. 

• Launching of Africa RISE report on the development of the pharmaceutical industry in Mauritius, supported by EU INTPA.
• Structuring of an investment framework – Appointment of experts for development of the investment framework
• Signature of investment agreements with two start-up development and manufacturing companies in Mauritius. 
• Requests for funding for multiple new projects in all spheres of biotechnology are currently being assessed. Request for key partnerships are under way.
• Setting up of six Steering Committees to provide guidance, advice and recommendations to MIBL Board on matters related to MIBL Blue (marine), Red (medical), Green (agriculture), Grey (environment), White (industrial) and Orange (skills and capacity building) biotechnologies.
• Drafting of the Green Biotechnology Report and of a roadmap for the agricultural biotechnology sector is in progress

Could you share some insights into your professional journey leading up to your current position as the head of MIBL?

I started my career in science, in UK, in 1989-1992. I was a graduate in Chemistry at the Polytechnic of North London, and then continued in the scientific area, via a Diploma at the University of Cambridge. I came to Mauritius in the mid-1990s, worked briefly at Shell, but then left for the United States in 1999 after being awarded a teaching assistantship to read for a PhD in Chemistry at the University of Massachusetts. I graduated with a PhD in 2003, after publishing several well-known and well-cited publications in the field of organic catalysis. I also discovered a soluble Cu(I) catalyst for which I was awarded a patent. I also studied for an MBA at Gilead/Golden Gate University in San Francisco, and at UCI Irvine for leadership courses in healthcare. Since 2003, I have worked mostly in the US bio-pharmaceutical industry. I worked at companies such as Gilead, Otsuka and CV Therapeutics. I was part of the development team that progressed the Hepatitis C drug Harvoni into commercialization, and had the opportunity to work globally in a multinational team. In 2014/2015, I was sent with a Gilead delegation to meet the then President of Mauritius to discuss distribution of the drug locally. I was enthralled by this trip to Mauritius and have since then tried to give something back to the country. When MIBL advertised the position internationally, I thought it would be timely to apply and provide support to grow the sector. I see deep talent and excellent potential in the country.

“Biotechnology ‘was’ a word of the future. It is not the case anymore.”

Looking ahead, what are the key strategic initiatives in the pipeline for MIBL, and what will the main challenges be?

In broad strokes, we, at MIBL, are working on the creation and sponsoring of an active biotechnology incubator that will allow a venture studio or accelerator to the incubator strategy, and to increase the focus, budget, control, experience, and the likelihood of success of biotechnology start-ups and investors. This is how, in our view, successful start-up culture was boosted over the years in places like Silicon Valley, and we have the ability and competence, here too, to start such a culture in Mauritius to lead the field regionally. 

Adding more mature start-ups through an accelerator attracting a venture studio with more focused value proposition aligned to the needs of specific corporations or industries, and specialized expertise, would keep credibility and increase the chances of quick wins in the shorter term. The incubator plan will also need to be supplemented by structural regulatory reforms securing mandate clarity for institutions, dedicated funds boosting research translation through academia-industry partnerships, global capacity building programs producing niche engineering and scientific talent pools, awareness drives improving accessibility to domestic support infrastructure for entrepreneurial ventures and output tracking frameworks with modern IT tools and domain experts assessing progress through clear evaluation criteria and real-time project monitoring.

We, at the MIBL, also suggest a One-Stop-Centre of Excellence for Controlled Environmental Agriculture (CEA) as a must in Mauritius, just like was done in small-sized countries like Singapore to reduce dependency on agro produce imports in the country. This would be a first phase to a bolder idea of an enabling center for Agro technology in Mauritius. I think it will have a promising output. Another initiative which is in the process of being launched is the initiation of an Ocean-to-Pharmacy pipeline of natural product-derived drugs in Mauritius that could be further extended to other natural products like “herbal medicines”. The potential of marine products for therapeutics needs globally is gargantuan.

With the keen interest and support for the sector that is currently being witnessed, we do not foresee any main challenges per se. It is more of a question of upgrading traditional ways and processes, and adopting innovation. Whilst MIBL is spearheading the initiative, the targets can only be met through a general collaborative and synergetic effort regrouping all relevant players.  

In line with the regional landscape, how does Mauritius stack up in terms of biotechnology advancements, and where do opportunities lie for growth?

To understand the regional landscape, let us quickly point our local successes. There have been incredible success stories in Mauritius in bio-pharma. It may not be well-known in Mauritius, but pharma-related medical devices development and exports have grown significantly over the last 4-5 years, and have surpassed all expectations. The level of QC controls and compliance in this area is rigid, and clearly, the core ability to succeed locally, then regionally, is very solid. Success locally has regional implications, and instead of competing with other countries in Africa, we intend to use such competencies to further expand distribution. 

That said, despite advancements, we are doing a lot to harmonize regulations of bio-pharmaceutical regulations. In recent SADC fora, this was clearly pointed out by all members. A rigorous amount of collaboration is needed through the AMA (African Medicines Agency) to promulgate regionally adaptable pharmaceutical guidance that would be flexible for all African countries. Opportunities lie in not only harmonizing regulations across Africa so we can tap into competencies in bio-pharma regionally, but in creating a sort of expanded biotech hub in Africa, supported by active government and private incubator partnerships.

With reference to the booming biotechnology industries in countries like India, China, the US, and the EU, what lessons can be applied to Mauritius?

These regional powerhouses in biotechnology have many lessons to teach both to Mauritius and the SADC region. I recall that when I started in California almost 20 years ago, the angel investment hub was then maturing and heating up. Today, it has become a locomotive for development and innovation in Silicon Valley. This explosion of growth catalysed by investment has unabashedly spilled over into other geographical areas. When I attended the global bio conference in Delhi supported by BIRAC, it quickly became obvious that the framework of Silicon Valley was now being emulated in India. There were 6500 start-up companies under one roof, all prying for success globally. On the other hand, China seems to be focusing on a different wing, i.e. moving beyond classic global pharmaceutical support services into niche development, like biologics and specialized peptides. What can we learn from these powerhouses? Mauritius should be tapping into these regions for ideas and should be inviting sponsors, projects and proposals into Africa. And this is one of the roles that the MIBL is currently embracing.

What role do you see biotechnology playing in the future of personalized medicine in Mauritius, and how is your company contributing to this emerging field? 

If one speaks about personalized medicine, one speaks of genomics mapping. However, let us set the context first. Africa, often referred to as the “Mother Continent”, is a vast and diverse landmass that is home to 54 countries, each with its unique history, cultures, and landscapes. Despite constituting 17% of the current global population, Africa has made a relatively modest economic impact, contributing only 3% to global GDP, engaging in 2.6% of world trade, and drawing a mere 4% of global FDI. With regards to precision medicine, why it is relevant is as follows: Africa boasts a diverse population with varied genetic backgrounds and epidemiological profiles. Conducting trials on the continent not only allows for the exploration of new markets, but also ensures that therapies are culturally and contextually relevant. The contribution to the success of clinical research initiatives can play a significant role in building research capacity in Africa. This involves training healthcare professionals, researchers, and support staff, nurturing sustainable research infrastructure, and promoting collaborations with international partners. MIBL has, to date, already received proposals from prospective partners looking into investments into genomics and precision medicine research targeting Africa and Mauritius. We will continue to support these projects, and also seek new ventures. 

How does MIBL approach Research and Development to stay at the forefront of innovation in the biotechnology sector?

Research and Development is an essential driver of economic growth as it spurs innovation, invention and progress. This is applicable to all sectors. MIBL, through its various initiatives in the pipeline, will foster the R&D and entrepreneurship culture. This will be the first step towards a truly inclusive biotechnology sector which becomes a ‘machinerie’ for innovation.

As we conclude, do you have any final thoughts or messages that you would like to share regarding the future of Biotechnology in Mauritius?

I would like to say that Biotechnology ‘was’ a word of the future. It is not the case anymore. Biotech activities are sprouting across the island, and at our level, we are observing a definite growing interest among the younger generation for this dynamic sector. At MIBL, we represent the support system required to transform this emerging industry into a core pillar of the economy.