The California based Amgen, a global human therapeutics company in the biotechnology segment, is exploring the options to collaborate with the Hyderabad-based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB). A senior scientist at the Centre told Pharmabiz that Amgen is primarily looking at possibilities of conducting pre-clinical studies through RNAi route for cancer drugs.

The 12.4 billion dollar US company, Amgen, has about 26 molecules in phase I to III for the treatment of cancer, asthma, Type 2 diabetes, obesity, pain management, rheumatoid arthritis, CVD and a host of other therapeutic areas.

Several MNCs and Indian pharma and biotech companies are learnt to have initiated discussions with the CCMB. Some of these companies include iBRAIN LifeScienceS of UK and the Hyderabad-based Transgene Biotek. iBRAIN focuses on three primary divisions- R&D, CRO and Health Care Provider. The company is keen to work in the area of stem cells, which is expected to have an impact on the modern therapies existing at present. iBRAIN is planning to work with CCMB for new therapies.

Meanwhile, the Department of Science and Technology is proposing to set up an exclusive RNAi focused research institution in India and has approached Dr Utpal Bhadra, a senior scientist of CCMB, who has been conducting research on RNAi technology.

Few private companies may be roped in for establishing this institution. iBRAIN is one such company that has already expressed interest to be a part of the initiative.

Dr Utpal Bhadr said that the institution which will operate as an autonomous body and will be set up on lines of MIT and Cambridge University. This will allow commercialisation of technologies and enable companies to grow around such an establishment. The institution may revolutionise the public private partnership model and will also attract the best scientists in the country, he added.