A symposium on Novel Drug Development was organized by the Amity Institute of Pharmacy on February 1, 2008 to expose the young students and faculty with the current advances in the area. Dr. Nitya Anand Former Director, CDRI delivering the key note address traced the history of drug development and explained how concepts of structure activity relationship, antimetabolities and drug delivery have evolved and helped the drug development. He also discussed the issues related to safety and regulatory requirements.

Besides, the students and faculty and a large number of scientists from the city including Dr. V.P. Kamboj, Dr, C.M.Gupta and other attended the symposium.

Dr. B.N. Dhawan, former Director CDRI, talked about the importance of herbal drugs and their use and world wide acceptance with appropriate examples. Prof. A.K. Mahapatra, Director, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences in his lecture described the management in the treatment of Glioma, a type of brain cancer, using gene therapy approaches.

Dr. P.K.Seth, CEO, Biotech Park, apprised the students with the rapid in-vitro systems which are being used in screening the biological activity, safety and toxicity of new drug molecules. He said with recent advances in field of biotechnology, several new opportunities for pharmacy graduates opened up. The bio-pharma sector is having an exponential growth.