Published: 3rd Feb 2026, 18:50

With the modernization and industrialization, the landscape of Indian biotechnology is also rapidly evolving. The announcement of the Biopharma SHAKTI initiative in 2026 Indian Budget marks a watershed moment. India is now striving to capture a dominant share of the global biologics market. Now the spotlight has shifted from end-product formulation to the base of biomanufacturing: Biological Media Bases.

A biopharma hub can only be truly “Shakti” (powerful) if it can get the raw ingredients it needs to grow life-saving cells on its own. At TM Media, we know that the first step to making world-class biosimilars and vaccines is to look at molecules.

Beyond the Broth: The Precision of Culture Media Ingredients

Traditional Culture Media are good for general growth, but the standards for making biosimilars are much higher. Each ingredient serves as a metabolic switch that can either improve or lower the quality of the final product.

The purity of Biological Media Bases directly impacts the “Critical Quality Attributes” (CQAs) of a drug. A slight variance in the purity of a nitrogen source or a mineral salt can lead to a biologically different product, put risk of regulatory approval.

Selecting the Right Foundation

To produce biosimilars, most of which rely on CHO (Chinese Hamster Ovary) or NS0 (Mouse Myeloma) cell lines, the choice of base ingredients dictates metabolic efficiency.

Hydrolysed proteins 

Complex bases called hydrolysates are produced by break down of protein. They offer an abundance of growth factors and amino acids.

• The best source of nucleotides and vitamin B is Yeast Extract. It acts as a protective agent against shear stress and ensure quick biomass accumulation in large-scale bioreactors. 
• The regulatory risks related to BSE/TSE contamination are eliminated when vegetable-based peptones are used. The main sources of Animal Origin-Free nitrogen are soy and vegetable peptones.
• Casein Hydrolysates (Tryptones) are made from milk protein; these are remarkably high in tryptophan and provide a link between chemically defined and complex media.

Chemically Defined Media Bases

As the industry is shifting toward Quality by Design (QbD), the Chemically defined bases are emerging as the core of the SHAKTI mission.

• With Chemically defined media there is no batch-to-batch variation because they only contain pure, inorganic, and organic molecules in known concentrations.
• Since there are no undefined proteins to filter out, chemically defined media streamlines downstream purification, greatly reducing production costs.

Micronutrients and Trace Elements

Precision nutrition is necessary for precision medicine. Certain amino acids, including L-Glutamine, and trace elements, such as Zinc and Copper, are essential co-factors for the enzymes that shape biosimilar proteins into their active 3D forms.

Empowering the SHAKTI Mission: India’s Biopharma Leap

The goal of the Biopharma SHAKTI mission is to turn India from a “pharmacy of the world” into a Biotech Powerhouse. This change requires us to stop using imported media parts and start using high-quality, homegrown ones instead. 

• Supply Chain Resilience: By utilizing domestic, high-purity ingredients from TM Media, Indian firms can insulate themselves from global supply chain shocks. 

• Cost-Efficiency: Optimizing media formulations reduces the “Cost per Gram” of the protein, making advanced therapies affordable for the masses.

• Global Standards: As India aligns with global regulatory bodies (FDA/EMA), the demand for COA (Certificate of Analysis) backed, USP/EP grade ingredients has never been higher.

Comparison: Choosing the Right Base for Biopharma

Conclusion: Quality at the Core

The Biopharma SHAKTI mission is a call to action. As we scale from R&D to 10,000-liter bioreactors, the integrity of our Culture Media Ingredients will dictate the efficacy of our vaccines and the safety of our biosimilars.

At TM Media, we ensure that Indian biomanufacturing is not just growing, but performing at its peak physiological potential that’s why we offer quality assured fermentation ingredients.

Explore our comprehensive range of Biological Media Bases at tmmedia.in.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Why is the choice of Culture Media Ingredients critical for Biosimilarity?

Biosimilars must be “highly similar” to the originator drug. Since the host cells are living systems, they are extremely sensitive to their environment. Even minor variations in media ingredients can alter the protein’s glycosylation pattern. These changes can affect the drug’s safety and efficacy, making high-purity, consistent ingredients essential for regulatory approval.

Q2. What are the advantages of using Animal Origin-Free (AOF) media in biomanufacturing?

AOF media ingredients are crucial for two main reasons: Safety and Regulatory Ease.

Q3. Can media ingredients influence the cost of Biosimilar production?

Yes, significantly. Media can account for a large portion of the “Upstream” operating costs.