CSIR to begin clinical trial for TB drug soon

CSIR had received Rs 50 cr in the 11th Five Year Plan, and had put a proposal of Rs 600 cr in the 12th Plan for the clinical trial

The first phase of the clinical trial for the treatment of tuberculosis through the Open Source Drug Discovery model led by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is likely to take place in the next few months, according to Samir K Brahmachari, director general, CSIR.

“The tuberculosis treatment market has an opportunity of about $300 million in India. Yet, no multinational drug makers are showing interest in drug discovery and research. We have now created a platform for the research,” he said.

The agreement has already been signed, according to him. “We are just waiting for some regulatory approvals for the clinical trial of the TB Alliance collaborative project. We target to start the first phase of the clinical trial in the next few months,” he said.

There has been no drug development in this segment over the last 50 years though around 1,000 people die everyday in India due to the disease, he added.

CSIR had received Rs 50 crore in the 11th Five Year Plan, and had put a proposal of Rs 600 crore in the 12th Plan for the clinical trial.

“With a vision to reduce the number substantially and eradicate TB completely by 2022, we are taking various such initiatives on similar models like how the country achieved success in eradicating polio,” he told mediapersons here on Sunday.

Brahmachari was here to attend the 25th foundation day of the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology.

Open Source Drug Discovery, a consortium led by CSIR in research collaboration with global drug companies, is aimed at solving complex problems associated with discovering novel therapies for diseases like malaria and tuberculosis.