Avesthagen has inked a memorandum of understanding with Manipal Acunova Ltd for drug discovery, pre-clinical, clinical research and regulatory matters. The partnership will enable them to jointly provide a fully integrated platform from early discovery to filing approvals for new products.

The two companies will also collaborate in validation of molecular diagnostics kits and product co-development for delivering high quality; affordable and advanced diagnostic tests using molecular techniques to patients and healthcare industry. They will jointly apply and own the intellectual property rights to the database or samples or process or products that are created during the agreement.

Avesthagen is India's leading fully integrated systems biology company that works towards the convergence of food, pharma and population genetics leading to predictive preventive personalized healthcare.

Manipal Acunova, on the other hand is a collaborative venture between the Manipal Education and Medical Group International India Private Ltd., and AcuNova Life Sciences Inc. Manipal Acunova can provide medical, clinical and project management capacities in clinical trials, lab management, data management and biostatistical services.

Dr Villoo Morawalla Patell, founder and managing director, said, "This pact would allow both of us to provide better and efficient service to our clients as well as patients and the healthcare industry as a whole".

"The collaboration will bring in a range of services to the clients expanding to biogenerics, bionutraceuticals and biopharma companies," said D A Prasanna founder and vice chairman of Manipal Acunova Ltd.