Indus Biotech gets a Nobel push

Nobel laureate Baruch Blumberg, who discovered the hepatitis B virus, wil join the Pune-based drug discovery firm Indus Biotech as chairman of its advisory board.

The Philadelphia-based scientist will also head the company's recently formed US subsidiary, People First Pharmaceuticals, and also will be involved in the drug discovery initiatives of the company.

"Blumberg has consented to be the chairman of the advisory board of our company in the US. He brings in expertise in clinical research, epidemiology, virology, genetics and anthropology," Indus Biotech managing director Sunil Bhaskaran told Business Standard.

Blumberg was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1976 for "discoveries concerning new mechanisms for the origin and dissemination of infectious diseases" and specifically for the discovery of the hepatitis B virus.

In 1993, Blumberg along with his co-inventor, Dr Irving Millman, were elected to the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

The company recently received the patent for a diabetes molecule that was derived from a botanical substance, fenugreek.