Avesthagen arm gets nod for product evaluation

Villoo Morawala-Patell, CMD, Avesthagen, said, "The Review Committee for Genetic Manipulation (RCGM) authorised by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has approved ABRPL's applications for conducting a pre-clinical evaluation of these biopharmaceutical products at its recognised contract research facilities."

The company's biopharmaceutical products are targeted at therapeutic indications like rheumatoid arthritis, anaemia resulting from chronic renal failure or chemotherapy and colorectal cancer.

Avesthagen is one of the co-developers of the products expected to be launched in the Indian market. The products are expected to enter the clinical evaluation stage in early 2009.

"Biopharmaceuticals offer advantages such as effective and potent action, fewer side effects and the potential to actually cure diseases rather than merely treat the symptoms. These advantages, combined with the increasing number of new diseases that can be treated with biopharmaceuticals, are driving enhanced production of these drugs," said Villoo Morawala-Patell.