In order to develop an effective regime to neutralize the effects of anthrax, Delhi-based Arbro Pharmaceuticals Ltd has teamed up with renowned scientist Prof Rakesh Bhatnagar for a collaborative project under the Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Research Programme of the Department of Science and Technology.

The Department will be funding the project to the tune of Rs 1.40 crore while Arbro would meet the rest of the cost during the first phase, which is expected to be completed in three years. Prof Bhatnagar, who had done a lot of research and made considerable success in the area, would be the team leader, Arbro managing director Vijay Kumar Arora told Pharmabiz. An agreement has been signed in this regard here recently between the collaborators.

"Although a number of anthrax vaccines have been developed and many are in pipe-line, strict vaccination of a large population is a far fetched idea. Passive immunization strategies have to be made available for the protection of unimmunized individuals. Moreover, often the symptoms in inhalational anthrax appear because of the high toxin levels in bloodstream. Systemic toxin levels can be neutralized with specific recombinant antibodies. But overloading the body with long-lived recombinant antibodies causes hypersensitive reactions. In this project it is proposed to create a bi-specific single chain antibody neutralizing both Edema Factor and Lethal Factor. These small sized antibodies having faster clearance rate from the blood would help to curb the effects of both the toxins of B.anthracis in a single dose," a release by the company said.

Prof Bhatnagar of Jawaharlal Nehru University has been working on molecular pathogenesis of anthrax for past 20 years. He has nearly 100 research articles in journals of international repute and several national and International patents to his credit. He has transferred the technology for the development of anthrax vaccine. Apart from the recombinant vaccines, he is also working on newer strategies for vaccine development like edible and DNA vaccines. Currently he is also involved in search of novel drug targets for anthrax.

Many of the tests and researches as pat of the project will also be done at the state-of-the-art lab facilities of Arbro Pharmaceuticals. Its Analytical Division is a well equipped lab which has been rated amongst the top five labs of India.

As anthrax is an endemic disease in a number of states of India including Orissa, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal, Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals recommend vaccination of the susceptible animals within six months in endemic areas. In spite of this aggressive vaccination program, every year there are reported cases of anthrax in animals and humans of the endemic regions. Beginning of 2008 reported cases of human anthrax in Andra Pradesh and Orissa because of infected meat consumption and handling in leather factories. Moreover, there is bioterrorism associated with anthrax since year 2001.