Avesthagen to address infant drug

By Our Staff Correspondent

MUMBAI, MAY 25. Avestha Gengraine Technologies (Avesthagen) has announced that it plans to bring its Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) product to the market by 2006. It is the recipient of a Rs. 2.75 crore `New Millennium Initiative for Technology Leadership (NMITLI)' grant from the Council of Scientific and Industries Research (CSIR).

DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid essential for the growth and well being of infants and adults. It has beneficial nutrient properties including development of brain function in infants.

An essential component of infant food formulas, it is made from marine sources, namely, thraustochytrids. The worldwide market for DHA is estimated at $300-400 million with an expected overall growth of 15 per cent through 2005.

G. Padmanaban, former Director, Indian Institute of Science and Chairman of the NMITLI monitoring committee, said, "Avesthagen's DHA project is a great example for a successful private-public sector partnership. This path breaking research marks the first step towards discovery and development of socially relevant and commercially viable projects for the biotechnology sector in India."

Elaborating on future plans, Villoo Morawala Patell, Founder and CEO, Avesthagen, said, "Our research is focused on generating novel nutraceutical products that use medicinal plant-based solutions for chronic degenerative conditions such as diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis and the like where no effective treatment currently exists, By 2010, we will bring to market a range of clinically validated nutritional compounds which will be licensed to large food companies for use as nutraceutical supplements and functional foods."