Title : Pharma (Illness) to Nutra (Wellness): A new model in healthcare industry
Abstract:
In the past decade, the world has witnessed the explosive growth of a multi-billion-dollar industry known as functional foods/nutraceuticals/phytomedicines/Ayurceutical. Nutra(Ayur)ceuticals appear to be of benefit in both the treatment and prevention of disease. Nutra(Ayur)ceuticals often possess unique chemical actions that are unavailable in pharmaceuticals. The human has been using food bioactive and/or herbal medicine for healing purpose from the beginning of human civilization. In recent times, use of evidence-based nutraceuticals for healthcare has increased steadily all over the world although it was neglected for decades by Western societies. The current landscape sees manufacturers and consumers struggle to define the boundaries between the nutrition and pharma as recent innovation draws on disciplines spanning the two sectors. The combination therapy of pharmaceuticals and food bioactive in disease prevention and treatments is one of the most dis-cussed topics in recent time. The transition of the pharmaceutical industry from its traditional business model is ongoing and interesting to see how their next blockbuster molecule could be derived through different routes. The transition from current ‘high-risk, high-margin’ business model to ‘low cost, high volume’ nutra business model is dependent on many factors.
With nutrition and pharma taking lessons from each other, an attempt to be made in this presentation to re-define Nutra(Ayur)ceuticals /functional foods/phytopharmaceuticals as well as to summarize the application of nutraceuticals.)
