The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has launched an innovative `open source drug discovery' (OSDD), a consortium with global partnership, to develop new molecules and finally a drug for treating tuberculosis, with an allocation of Rs 150 crore during the 11th Plan for the effort. Modelled after the Human Genome Sequencing project, the largest ever attempt of the kind in drug discovery, the project will have association from a host of private pharmaceutical companies and scientific institutions from both private and public sector.

Union minister Kapil Sibal on Monday launched the project targeting the infectious diseases afflicting the developing world. ``It will break the barriers of the patent regime to make affordable the drug for poor," he said.
"It expands resources for research manifold by allowing open access and collaboration among voluntary researchers. The CSIR has set up a web portal (www.osdd.net) for this purpose. It will provide a platform for collaborative research, data on the pathogens, tools for data analysis, and discussion forum for members to share ideas, projects for students to participate in drug discovery etc," Sibal said.

"The website is based on Wiki-based model, designed to enable anyone to contribute or modify content in a collaborative mode. These ideas and suggestions will be peer-reviewed and the contributor commensurately acknowledged. It aims to bring openness and collaborative spirit to the drug discovery process with the objective of keeping the drug cost low," CSIR director general Dr Brahmachari said.

A core committee of expert scientists will monitor the entire process of drug discovery closely. The discovery of new potential drugs will be in public domain thus precluding monopoly. Once the molecules are discovered, it will be further taken for clinical studies with the help of the consortium, formed with pharmaceutical companies also as members. And the consortium will finally churn out the end product - drug for TB - so that it is made available to the people at lowest possible rates.