The California based leading biologics company Actis Biologics Inc, with the Indian subsidiary of Actis Biologics Pvt Ltd, are on an expansion mode. The company is setting up its new manufacturing unit at Andheri in Mumbai with the initial investment of around US $4-5 mn. The expansion is expected to be completed within one year. The company has signed technical agreement with the Malaysian government for setting up 'Biotech Township' in Malaysia.
Actis Biologics is a biotech venture technology company focusing on the life science sector. The company works with leading scientists throughout the world and entrepreneurs to set up life science ventures in Asia. It targets discovery of new molecules through collaborations or internal research or in-license promising targets, then add value to the targets by accelerating the progression through the biopharmaceutical product life cycle while reducing costs by a significant margin.
Speaking to Pharmabiz, Sanjeev Saxena, chairman and CEO, said, "We are considering this era as a biotech era and to expand our foothold in the international market and we are in the process of introducing many new therapies across the world. With the initial investment of US $4-5 mn, we are setting up new manufacturing unit in Mumbai. In our manufacturing unit we will strictly work towards gene therapy, medical device, protein therapy and diagnostic. Currently, our two new products are in the pre clinical stage namely, MSP-36 (memory secrete protein) and another drug for the breast and prostate cancer".
"We are expecting it will be available in another five years and we are spending around US $20-30 mn for the above product. With the 12 scientists at our research and development centre, we are adding 38 more scientists by the end of 2007. As part of our commitment to building corporate value, we are also committed to building an intellectual property portfolio that emphasizes broad, enabling platform technologies and discoveries".
The company is aggressively working towards developing next generation therapies using a novel vector technology (tame virus) for delivery of a predetermined genetic sequence, i.e. a gene, into a cell. Most diseases are a result of the malfunction of genes, which produce certain proteins. The body in general is in a state of harmony with various proteins, enzymes and chemicals. When this state is disturbed, it results in the formation of a particular disease. Hence, to correct this problem, currently various proteins or enzymes or chemicals are injected into the body. However, if the genes for these proteins are corrected through gene therapy, "We expect the natural body state to be maintained and the problem resolved. This approach has been tested in small animals and shown to be effective in ameliorating disease", Saxena further added.