May 15, 2004

Source : Business Line

Cipla, Avesthagen in biotech alliance

Our Bureau

Mumbai: WITH the promise of more alliances between allopathic and biotech companies, Avestha Gengraine Technologies Ltd will be collaborating with Cipla Ltd on a bio-pharmaceuticals development programme.

Dr Villoo Morawala Patel, Chief Executive Officer, Avesthagen, told Business Line that Cipla would sponsor the research and development, which would be undertaken by Avesthagen. "Avesthagen will focus on research and product development and clinical trials. Cipla will engage in scale-up, marketing and distribution," she said.

The research would focus on recombinant products or bio-generics that are already present in the Western markets and the first segment that is being looked at is the autoimmune segment, she said. This would subsequently be extended to the cardio-vascular disease (CVD) and cancer segments, she added. The first products are expected in three years. "Big pharma companies in the West grew in biotechnology through this model of partnering with specialised bio-tech companies. We are looking to adopt the same model and a couple of more alliances can be expected with domestic pharma companies this calendar year," she said.