The Pune-based Geneombio Technologies Pvt Ltd, a contract research organization specialized in providing extensive customized DNA-based service in the areas of human, livestock health and agriculture, is all set to launch its molecular diagnostics and research kits business with a range of products within a month.

As the first phase of its molecular diagnostic kits business, the company will launch diagnostic kits for rapid detection of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV-I), hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, within a month. The products are currently passing validation process in National Institute of Virology (NIV).

As the second phase of operation, the company will develop point-of-care diagnostic kits for Tuberculosis and HIV of which the technology for HIV kit will be transferred from a US-based diagnostics company in the month of July.

"We are in talks with various pharma and diagnostic companies along with big dealers in the sector for marketing the products. The talks are on the final stage and we expect to launch our first set of products within a month. With this, we would be the first company in the country to foray into indigenous development and production of these kits for R&D labs and we can offer the products in one third of the market price," said Sachin Purohit, managing director, Genomebio Technologies.

The company is planning to launch 15 research kits and six diagnostic kits products in the domestic market within a year. The research kits basket currently have six products ready for launch including PCR and RT-PCR kit and the company's focus is to develop kits that address diverse DNA extraction and purification needs ranging from bacteria to human tissues, said Dr Pratap N Mukhopadhyaya, chief executive officer and head of R&D operations.

As part of its research kits development programme, the company is planning to come up with four intermediate vector products based on e-coli and yeast, both for archiving and expressing genes in DNA research. The products currently in the second phase of development and are expected to be in market in the beginning of 2009. The market potential of the research kits could be around Rs 100 crore to Rs 150 crore in the first quarter following the launch in India, and the company also have plans to market these products in foreign markets, he added.

The company is in talks with companies in various parts of South East Asia for expanding the market, said Purohit. He said that the manufacturing capacity will be expanded soon either through a collaboration with diagnostic manufacturers or as Geneombio's own venture to cater the needs of the market. The company is also in talks with various venture capitalists to raise funds for its expansion plans. Geneombio has also launched a company, Molecular Diagnostics Associates, for diagnostic kits testing last month.