New Delhi: HL July 21, 2026
In a major step towards strengthening India’s healthcare innovation ecosystem, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has transferred three homegrown biomedical technologies to leading Indian pharmaceutical and vaccine manufacturers for further development and commercialization.
Facilitated under the Medical Innovations Patent Mitra initiative, the technology transfer includes an innovative anti-HPV therapeutic candidate, SHetA2, licensed to Emcure Pharmaceuticals Ltd., along with two advanced vaccine technologies targeting enteric bacterial infections, licensed to Biological E Ltd.
The SHetA2 technology has been developed through a collaboration between scientists at the ICMR-National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research (NICPR) and the Stephenson Cancer Center at the University of Oklahoma, USA. The experimental therapy is designed to selectively destroy HPV-related precancerous and cervical cancer cells while preserving healthy tissue, offering the potential for a safer and less invasive treatment option.
ICMR has also transferred two promising vaccine technologies developed by researchers at the ICMR-National Institute for Research in Bacterial Infections (NIRBI), Kolkata. One vaccine candidate targets Salmonella typhi as a next-generation typhoid vaccine, while the second recombinant vaccine aims to provide broader protection against Salmonella typhi, Salmonella paratyphi, and Shigella infections.
According to ICMR, these technologies are expected to support India’s efforts in preventing cervical cancer and reducing the burden of enteric bacterial diseases through indigenous innovation.
Secretary, Department of Health Research and Director General, ICMR, Dr. Rajiv Bahl said the organisation is committed to ensuring that publicly funded research reaches patients through industry partnerships. He noted that initiatives such as Medical Innovations Patent Mitra are helping bridge the gap between scientific discoveries and affordable healthcare products, while contributing to India’s goal of self-reliance in medical innovation.
ICMR said it has developed an integrated innovation ecosystem that supports researchers from laboratory discovery to patent protection, clinical validation, regulatory facilitation and commercial deployment. Along with Patent Mitra, the MedTech Mitra initiative is also assisting innovators with regulatory guidance and market access for indigenous healthcare technologies.
The latest technology transfers underline the growing collaboration between research institutions and industry, paving the way for affordable, high-quality healthcare solutions developed in India for both domestic and global use.
