'CBT transferred 20 compounds to Ranbaxy in last 18 months'

Anna University's Centre for Biotechnology's (CBT's) tie-ups with industry have resulted in a transfer of 24 compounds to leading domestic pharmaceutical companies "� Ranbaxy and Nicholas Piramal.

CBT's director Arun Balakrishnan told Business Standard that they have transferred 20 compounds that held potential in treating diabetes, among other areas, to Ranbaxy in the last 18 months.

Nicholas Piramal has received four compounds that had potential in treatment of cancer, he added. The tie-ups with the two companies had brought in about Rs 1.5 crore to CBT.

CBT's group of 20 people, primarily students, who are engaged in carrying out research for industry, has also worked on a neem-based herbal formulation for EID Parry.

The process starts with CBT sourcing relevant medicinal plants for research from Indian systems of medicine. Subsequently, the needed compound is identified and screened. Once the initial spadework is done, companies review the work, and take over development of the promising compounds.

Balakrishnan said that the revenue generated by CBT from its industry tie-ups is ploughed back to upgrade and add to the existing infrastructure.

The industry tie-ups are the outcome of CBT injecting a commercial orientation to its functioning. Balakrishnan had earlier explained that the model followed by US universities provided a sort of template for CBT's engagement with the industry. Basic research carried out in US universities often eventually led to new product development by pharmaceutical companies.

Balakrishnan felt that CBT's assets were the students. The constant turnover of students drives research and offsets stagnation that can descend upon a static group.