Genotypic Technology (P) Ltd, an R&D genomics company has developed a tool for protein analysis called BPL (Binding Pocket Versus Ligand) Scan, which is a cheaper option for identifying the potential target in the drug discovery. AstraZeneca Research India Foundation, Bangalore, funded the project.
It has also developed human arrays called ''Hotspot''- used for drug toxicity and efficacy studies in association with the Centre for Biotechnology, New Delhi.
The two novel products- a one-of-a-kind in the world are inexpensive and will help speed up the drug discovery. The chances of leading to a wrong molecule with the BPL Scan are minimal. The earlier models used for structure-based drug discovery were expensive, time consuming and rarely proven to work, Dr. Raja Mugasimangalam, president, Genotypic Technology told Pharmabiz.com.
The company is now looking at overseas pharma companies who are serious about drug discovery and have the monetary and manpower resources. It has also had discussions with Indian pharma companies. "The reality is that currently Indian companies have not developed any drugs using new molecules. In the coming years, there will be a potential in India for the two products," he noted.
According to Dr. Raja, Bioinformatics and genomics applications are not in a user-friendly format for pharma research scientists. It requires much more customisation and development of newer databases/ tools. "We will be a ''knowledge-source'' for pharma and biotech companies."
The company was incorporated in 2000 with an investment of about Rs. 25 lakh. For the last two years, it has teamed up for research assignments with the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore and research centres in Pune. It has also been associated with Weizmann Institute, Israel, Argonne National Laboratory; USA, Cornell Medical School; New York and QBI Enterprises; Israel, for research projects.
It has developed novel databases for efficient translation of Genomics data in diagnostic tools, drug targets and drugs. Studies have been conducted on Aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), relation between tissues, evolution of tissues and genetic code.
For the future, the company will develop unique diagnostic tools based on gene expression, identification of small molecules and receptors involved in cancer and obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. It is developing methods for removing the redundant clones in existing cDNA libraries.