UK firm seeks allies for joint drug research

As part of its foray into India, William Harvey Research (WHRL) - the UK-based contract research organisation (CRO) and part of the renowned William Harvey Research Institute - is in discussions with three leading Indian pharmaceutical companies for joint drug research and collaborations.

“We are looking at drug research alliances in India and talking to three major Indian companies that are developing new drugs. However, it is too early to name the companies and the nature of discussions,” said Christoph Theimermann, chief executive officer, WHRL.

WHRL was founded in 1990 by Nobel laureate Sir John Vane to fund the research works at William Harvey Research Institute, one of the leading centres in the world for pharmacological research.

The company specialises in pre-clinical drug development in the areas of inflammatory and cardio vascular diseases.

In the past, the CRO has conducted over 80 drug discovery programmes allying with leading multi-national companies, such as Glaxosmithkline (GSK), Eli Lilly and the like, for the same.

Christoph Theimermann, now in India for launching a collaborative academic programme with the Mumbai-based Clinical Research Education and Management Academy (Crema), said the new drug research programmes undertaken by many of the Indian companies have the potential to come out with blockbuster drugs.

Chandan Alam, director, academic collaborations at William Harvey Research Institute, said, “The alliance with WHRL would initially be for student and faculty exchanges and for imparting training to 500-odd students with Crema.

India’s CRO sector is expected to become a $1-billion industry by 2010 from $300-350 million estimated currently, consisting of about 280 CROs. A McKinsey study estimates that the industry would require about 50,000 professional investigators and professionals by 2015.

According to Ramananda Nadig, president, Crema, there are about ten training centres in the country for contract research, all in the private sector, churning out 3,000 professionals every year.