• The Government of India introduced the 'BioE3' policy to promote innovation in the biotechnology sector through the creation of biomanufacturing plants, bio-AI hubs, and bio-foundries.
• A primary goal of the policy is to advance precision therapeutics, which involves tailoring drugs to meet individual patient needs. Additionally, it aims to foster the growth of biologics, including gene and cell therapies.
• Recent breakthroughs in human-relevant 3D culture models, also known as 'new approach methods' (NAMs), have shown promise in precision therapeutics. These include technologies such as 3D spheroids, organoids, bioprinting, and organ-on-chip systems.
• The global organ-on-chip market is projected to reach $1.4 billion by 2032, driven by increased investment in NAMs, particularly organ-on-chip technology. Since its inception, organ-on-chip technology has gained significant traction, poised to transform healthcare by creating lab-based environments that simulate human body conditions using cells from the body.
• One of the main reasons for the organ-on-chip market's growth is the rising demand for alternatives to animal-based drug testing.
• In recent developments, the UK company CN Bio raised $21 million to further its R&D efforts in organ-on-chip technology, while the U.S. firm Vivodyne secured $38 million in funding to incorporate AI and automation into this technology. These examples reflect the growing commercial interest in this area.

Drug testing and development

• The traditional drug development process typically takes around 10 years and costs approximately $2.3 billion, with many drugs failing in the final stages of clinical trials. A key reason is that drugs are often tested on genetically modified animals, which may not accurately predict human responses.
• Organ-on-chip technology offers a solution by providing a more precise and efficient platform for preclinical drug testing without the need for animals or human subjects. These small devices replicate the functioning of human organs in a controlled environment and are expected to outperform current cell culture and animal models, offering better insights into a drug's effectiveness and safety.
• This technology could also cut drug development time and costs, leading to faster and potentially more affordable drug availability.

Investment in technology

• The first report on the potential of organ-on-chip models emerged in 2010. By 2012, the U.S. National Institutes of Hea