Serum plans to unveil two new drugs by 2009

The Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII), the country's largest bio-pharmaceutical company, plans to unveil two new drugs-one for treatment of chronic renal failure (CRF) and other to counter side effects of chemotherapy in cancer patients.

Both recombinant products are expected to become commercially available by 2008-2009.

The first product developed under license from Liposis, a UK-based company, aims to reduce the frequency with which CRF patients are injected with poly ethylene glycol (PEG) . Currently, the drug has to be injected twice a week. SII's drug will reduce the frequency to once in two weeks.

"We are developing a drug with a longer half life, using a novel method. It is much better than what is available in the market," said Umesh Shaligram, director, production,Serum Institute.

Shaligram said that the new drug, which is being developed from a known molecule, will be non-toxic and will have higher level efficiency than PEG.

It has been proved that continued use of PEG for 2-3 decades can cause renal toxicity. The new drug is bio-degradable, added Shaligram.

Once developed, the drug will be sold under a co-owned IPR (intellectual property rights) with Liposis.

The worldwide market for CRF drugs is estimated at $ 6 billion a year. It is currently undergoing animal trials and is slated to go for human trials in a year. SII is considering a commercial release around 2009-2010.

Serum Institute is also working on a drug to combat the side effects of chemotherapy and increase the count of white blood cells in cancer patients. The process being used is similar to the interferon-based drugs used for Hepatitis-C, said Shaligram.