Roche in talks with Actis Biologicals

F. Hoffmann-La Roche, the Switzerland-based global pharmaceutical major, is in talks with biotech drug research company Actis Biologics, to form a research and marketing alliance to access rights of cancer drugs being developed by the latter.

"Roche has shown interest in our cancer drugs portfolio and we are meeting them in New York next week for further discussions," Sanjeev Saxena, Chairman and CEO, Actis Biologics told Business Standard.

So far none of the Indian pharmaceutical and biotech companies have been able to develop their own biotech drug and outlicense or sell it to multinational drug companies.

Actis is also developing Angiozyme, a potential drug to treat colon cancer and several other diseases, which it acquired from the Merck Group company Sirna Therapeutics a few years ago. Angiozyme will enter

Phase III clinical trials in Malaysia and India, and later in the US, in six months. The only other similar class drug, Avastin, developed by Genetech and marketed by Roche, currently has sales of over $ 2.2 billion.

Actis is also developing a Gene therapy programme, code named MSP 36, to treat breast and prostrate cancer. The product is in Phase I clinical trials. Actis is also working with leading drug researchers in the US to develop an immunotherapy programme to fight infectious diseases like AIDS.

Actis will soon sign an agreement with a leading cancer research institute in the US to jointly research and commercialise a cure for paediatric cancers, said Saxena.

Actis is close to launching VFF2, a patented technology platform that can reduce the cost of manufacturing of several biotech drugs, food and beverages by about 80 per cent, according to P N Venugopalan, President, Actis Biologics.

Actis Biologics, like its parent company Actis Biologics Inc in the US, follows a unique model of floating separate incubation companies under its umbrella for various technologies and products under development, with Actis holding a majority stake.

Together, Actis is developing six technologies, with a potential to develop five products each in the near future, Venugopalan said.

Actis is also planning to set up a second phase for its 270-acre acre Biocity, coming up in Melaka, Malaysia. The initial phase will involve an investment of $ 1 billion to house 25 units.

A second phase, involving an investment of $1.5 billion, to house 40-50 units is also being planned, following an assurance from the Malaysian Government to provide 500 acres adjacent to the first phase.

Actis Biodevelopment, a special unit to manage Biocity, will put up biotech research and manufacturing facilities, residential complexes, and recreational facilities in the township, said Saxena.

MEDICAL MARVELS

Actis Biologics, a biotech drug research firm, is a subunit of Actis Biologics Inc in the US

Actis is developing Angiozyme, a drug to treat colon cancer

Actis is developing a Biocity, where manufacturing facilities and residential complexes will be set up in Malaysia