The Indian Institute of Chemical technology (IICT) has recently isolated an anti-gastric ulcer molecule from a known Indian medicinal plant. The molecule code named OA-5 showed potent anti-gastric ulcer activity against different types of ulcers such as chemical, stress induced, pylorus ligated and ethanol induced ulcers.

The activity against all the types of ulcers is on par with the known drugs in the market and in some cases much higher. IICT has tied up with Gulbarga University, with the University carrying animal experimentation and testing. The research on this molecule has been initiated three years ago.

As of now, in vivo studies have been completed. A patent has been filed. IICT team is ready to initiate pre-clinical toxicology studies. IICT is actively looking for collaborative partners from industry to take the molecule further into clinical trials, Dr JS Yadav, director, IICT, said.

During 2005-06, IICT has developed new technologies that have been either demonstrated or released to various pharmaceuticals, biotechnology or nutraceuticals companies. These technologies include development of Toxol C-13 side chain in the area of anti-cancer and a cardio vascular drug Diltiazam for SMS Pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals such as Octacosanol and Diacylglycerol, an anti-ulcer drug Misoprostol and an abortion drug Carboplast.

He added, five US patents on anti-cancer have been licensed to US-based IndUS Pharmaceuticals, promoted by an NRI, for a fee for an upfront payment of Rs 43 lakh plus USD 3.5 lakh towards milestone payments and Royalty at the rate of three per cent on net sales. IICT has also won IDMA's Best Patent Award for this R&D achievement.

IICT has created new facilities such as High Field NMR installed for carrying out R & D in designer molecules for drugs and other applications, costing Rs 5 crore. A Pre-Biotechnology Process Generator facility has been set up with financial support from DBT at a cost of Rs 2.1 crore. The facility will be used for carrying out development of bench scale processes of biotechnology and biotransformation on lab scale by biotech companies. It has also facilitated setting up of a genetic chemistry R&D facility in collaboration with Switzerland-based Evolva, focusing on diabetes and metabolic disorders, Dr Yadav informed.

The Institute is establishing a centre for combinatorial products with an investment of over Rs 25 crore. IICT is planning to establish strategic partnerships for developing herbal drugs and new bio-active molecules. The Institute is developing competencies primarily in the areas of Asthma, HIV, TB, and Malaria.

IICT has published 447 scientific papers and filed 113 patents, out of which 84 were filed overseas. IICT was granted 64 patents of which 33 are overseas. IICT has touched Rs 25.20 crore in terms of external cash flow standing first among all the chemical sciences group of labs in CSIR. IICT is celebrating its 62nd Foundation Day on August 5, 2006.