The Department of Science and Technology has cleared a major research proposal from Bangalore based Vedic Remedies for scientific validation of its anti AIDS siddha drug. The research would be carried out by Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Research (JNCAR), Bangalore in association with several social organizations, it is learnt. JNCAR has a dedicated research facility to handle HIV projects.

According to DST sources, the total funding for the project would be Rs 132 lakh. The department has sanctioned Rs 80 lakh while the rest would come from the company. Though the company has been producing the drug for the last 10 years, it was never validated. It is known that the drug is capable of bringing down the viral load to bare minimum level within a few years. Commonly used anti-retroviral allopathic drugs can only keep the virus under control and are to be continued throughout. The siddha medicine is expected to have a great potential due to the same reason.

The DST has also cleared five other proposals for developing/validating natural drugs through its Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Research Programme (DPRP) during the last month.

The DST gave industry-institution collaborative research approval for the development of a herbo-mineral and plant based disease-oriented immuno modular formulation to Mumbai based Shree Dhoot Papeshwar Limited. The research programme involves Regional Research Laboratory, Jammu, KEM Hospital and BYL Nair Charitable Hospital, Mumbai. The department has sanctioned Rs 81 lakh for the project, which is to cost a total of Rs 2 crore in two years time.

Indian Medicine Pharmaceutical Corporation Limited (IMPCL), Almora, is the third institution to benefit out of the DST programme. IMPCL would collaborate with Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), Hyderabad for the standardization and scientific validation of five of its existing Ayurvedic products. These drugs are meant for the treatment of life style related and gynaecological disorders. Loss of memory, mental disorders, skin disorders, asthma etc are the illnesses for which these drugs are being administered.

The public sector IMPCL currently enjoys a monopoly status in government supplies, mostly to the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) dispensaries across the country. With the centre announcing its plans to allow private sector Ayurvedic manufacturers with GMP certified manufacturing facilities to participate in government tenders, the IMPCL has realized the importance of standardizing its products. The company also plans to introduce its products in the open market and hence considers the collaborative research programme as an important futuristic step. The DST contribution towards this research would be about Rs.50 lakhs, it is learnt.

Marico Industries Ltd, Mumbai would be given Rs.60 lakh assistance through the DPRP for research on alopecia and skin disorders. The company has already identified plant based remedies which they intend to develop as full fledged drugs with the help of Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), Chennai and Ruia College, Mumbai.

The Sastra Deemed University has been granted approximately Rs.15 lakhs for scientific validation of the safety and efficacy profile of a drug mentioned in Siddha literature. The drug, Karbogi, is prescribed for the management of leukoderma. The university has identified its industrial partner, it is learnt.

While the first two projects are for three years, the Sastra University has been asked to complete its pre-clinical studies, for which the amount has been sanctioned, within two years.

The DST is also to fund the research project of Nagarjuna Herbal Concentrate Limited, Idukki for validating its new anti-hypertensive combination 'Cardo Guard' tablet.the authentication, analysis of molecular mechanism would be carried out in Sri Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST), Trivandrum.