Ahmedabad-based Intas Pharmaceuticals Ltd (Intas) has entered into a strategic partnership with US biotechnology company Amarillo Biosciences, Inc (ABI), whereby Intas will sponsor clinical trials of ABI’s orally administered interferon-alpha lozenges for influenza, which could also be used in combating the H1N1 virus.
Intas will pay ABI a royalty on net sales after marketing approval is obtained in India. It has no plans of manufacturing the product in India, informed an Intas official. ABI said the objective of the clinical trials in India is to determine the efficacy of low-dose oral interferon in reducing the severity of infection with influenza viruses such as H1N1. An Intas spokesperson confirmed the development.
According to recent reports, the death rate in India from H1N1 infection is 3.1 per cent and the virus continues to circulate in the country.
