The Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha (CCRAS) has completed clinical studies to develop drugs for eight disease conditions and would soon tie up with industry partners to commence further research and commercialisation.

Clinical studies have been completed on Rasayana for healthy life, Quality of Life (QOL) - II to avoid opportunistic infection of immune system, QOL- I as a remedy for cancer patients to counter-side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy (at Tata Cancer Institute, Mumbai), AYUSH LIV multi-centric drug trial on Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C, AYUSH Osteo multi-centric clinical trial on Osteoporosis and bone fracture, AYUSH RP (Rakthposhak) multi-centric clinical trial for allopathic and ayurvedic formulae on sickle cell anaemia and iron deficiency due to anaemia,  AYUSH SL (Shleepad), clinical trial on acute and chronic cases of Filariasis, Dr. G S Lavekar, director, CCRAS, told Pharmabiz.

In AYUSH SL, two formulae are on trial, a drug for internal use and another for external use. All the eight drug leads are due for applying to secure patents. The drug for external application would be tested for reducing the morbidity in filarial diseases like chronic lymphatic oedema. CCRAS has short-listed about nine proposals from various companies to partner with CCRAS in further research and commercialisation of these research leads. The Council would soon convene a meeting to discuss the proposals and to select manufacturers having good R&D capabilities, explained Dr. Lavekar.

He said the council has initiated projects to work on about 25 diseases or conditions, including projects to develop drugs for chronic diseases like diabetes mellitus, hepatitis, hypertension, obesity, eye disorders, dysfunctional uterine bleeding, joint disorder etc. CCRAS looks forward to partner with medium and small-scale units from the ISM sector to join the initiative as sleeping partners in the forthcoming projects, said Lavekar.

He said Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) to standardize bhasmas, metals and mineral preparations was continuing at Jamnagar Ayurveda University of Gujarat and at Govt. Ayurveda College, Nanded at Maharashtra. The Council is also conducting another project to test the effects of Poshaka yoga in the training of weightlifting at Sports Authority of India (SAI), Bangalore.