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ABL Biotechnologies Ltd, a publicly-held,
technology-intensive company, has signed an MoU with Christian
Medical College, Vellore, for joint research in several areas
that have far-reaching implications in cost-effective management
of various diseases that are more prevalent in the Indian
subcontinent.
K O Issac, chairman, ABL Biotechnologies,
said, "This MoU signals the beginning of an initiative that will
bring together technological competence, research expertise and
clinical acumen to accelerate the discovery of novel drug
targets and therapeutic approaches. Tuberculosis, Oncology,
Cardio-Vascular medicine and nanotechnology-based therapy are a
few of the projects which ABL and CMC will explore jointly."
Established in 1991, the company focuses on
bio-manufacturing, identification and isolation of marine
microbial metabolites of therapeutic value and bio-process
engineering. Over the last few years, ABL Biotechnologies Ltd
has also evolved into a product development and manufacturing
company that services a large segment of the Indian
Pharmaceutical industry with unique formulations developed
in-house.
India has witnessed a significant increase in
lifestyle diseases. This tilt in disease profile and the growing
emphasis on quality of life as well as preventive care is
forcing companies to realign their product portfolios. A high
degree of consolidation has also left the industry lean and
hungry for post-patent challenges. The Indian pharmaceutical
industry is expected to record a quantum leap from Rs 35,000
crore to 75,000 crore in the next five years.
ABL Biotechnologies launched Invia Health,
its own pharmaceutical division in Chennai, in early 2006 to
cater to the Indian market with a well-diversified portfolio of
products. The portfolio of products mainly addressed vascular
health, G I health and neuroprotection, especially in diabetics.
Infectious diseases being the largest segment, ati-infectives
were added during the course of the year.
Invia Health is now expanding its operations
to Kerala followed by Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Orissa in
August/September 2007. "This expansion into the rest of the
south as well as Orissa will see lnvia Health placing products
to cater to the cardio-diabetic segment including medicines for
the management of heart failure," said P S Ganeshan, president,
Invia Health.
The products of Invia Health have been
well-received by the medical fraternity in Tamil Nadu. With
probiotics having been shown to have benefits in the entire body
homeostasis, Salubact, the unique formulation of Invia Health,
garnered 15 per cent of the prescription share in this segment.
The 'Eunerv range' of products that are meant for
neuroprotection and alleviation of symptoms of overt neuropathy
also did well in the market.
Products identified for launch this year
include GLIMOD M, GL YSENSE and Eunerv G. Small volume
parenterals also will be launched in the anti-infectives,
anti-inflammatory and G I health segment.
ABL is also in dialogue with companies abroad
for in-licensing of technology, especially nanotechnology-based
drug delivery systems. ABL's scientific expertise will help the
company commercialise this using its own drug candidates as well
as ones that it would jointly develop with other partners. ABL
will also explore how this technology will help enhance
therapeutic efficacy and ease of administration of existing
drugs.
R Rangaraj
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