The Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI) prepared a record number of 1749 new synthetic molecules, collected samples of 21 new terrestrial plants and 12 new marine flora and fauna during the last scholastic year, making it a productive year which also saw ties with major firms like Ranbaxy and IPCA.

During the year, the premier research institute filed applications for 50 patents, with 19 in India and 31 abroad. As many as 25 patents were granted during period. Of them, 12 were in India and the rest coming from other nations

Under the project on anti-cancer drug, hit molecules of four chemical classes were short listed and from hit molecules, about 70 new analogs were synthesized and subjected to advanced screening using eight cancer cell lines, according to the statistics compiled by the Lucknow-based institute on its performance during 2006-07.

The report said, private companies were particularly interested in new leads and candidate drugs under development, namely, CDR-134F194, CDR267F018, NP-1, S-002-853, S-002-857 and compound 99-4111. Companies like Ranbaxy, IPCA, Indigene Pharmaceutical and Satsang Rasaishana Mandir were among those tied up with the CDRI for these ongoing projects.

"Out of the 338 compounds screened against M tuberculosis H37Rv, two compounds were found active in vitro with none showing toxicity towards vero cells or mouse bone marrow derived macrophages. On screening in mice, two compounds showed variable degree of infection clearance in spleen and lungs. This was reconfirmed and further evaluations were on," the report said.

Essential safety pharmacology studies of three candidate drugs including Lysostaphin cream and lysostaphin gel have been undertaken for their effect on cardiovascular, respiratory and CNS parameters in rats, rabbits and mice during the year.

"Efforts are in progress to produce polyclonal antibodies against purified fraction of S.cervi antigen that will be used for molecular characterisation of filarial circulating antigen," it said.

In the clinical studies segment during the year, anti-malarial drug arteether continued the multi-centric efficacy studies in Dibrugarh, Rourkela, Jabalpur, Jodhpur and Guwahati completing thus 234 cases. Capusles of other antimalarial drug, compound 80/53l were sent to Thailand for safety evaluation in G6-PD deficient cases suffering from malaria.

Phase III multi-centric clinical trials on compound 80/574 (hypolipidemic) have been initiated while clinical studies to evaluate efficacy of picroliv(hyepatoprotective) in alchoholic cirrhosis and in tuberculosis patients held in three centres, the report said.