Gujarat based Intas Biopharmaceutical Limited (IBPL) and Viropro Inc. are finalizing plans to start production and development of therapeutic protein by the end of this month. The companies have signed MoU during May 2007. The IBPL has successfully completed the site visit to Viropro and is satisfied with the Viropro's strong intellectual property and process development skills.

Speaking with Pharmabiz, Mani Iyer, director, IBPL, said, "IBPL is looking to leverage certain proprietary technologies and expertise of Viropro towards co-development of molecule dedicated towards bio-therapeutic products. As part of the announcement made earlier regarding equity investment in Viropro, an initial sum of US $50,000 has been sent to Viropro as a down payment towards the first milestone payable. IBPL and Viropro, through this contractual agreement, will explore opportunities to manufacture and commercialize the product."

Dr Jean-Marie Deputy, president and CEO of Viropro, said, "The development work is progressing according to schedule. Following the final signature, Viropro expects to receive product development revenues of US $2.1 million over the next 18 months as well as subsequent royalties on IBPL product sales".

Development of bio-generics including cytokines, hormones; novel products and recombinant blood factors is amongst the priority area for IBPL. The company is planning to generate clones for commercial production of protein using state-of-the-art technologies to improve yields, quality as well as adopting novel expression systems (including transgenics) with an objective to build intellectual property over the long run. IBPL, in a planned and phase-wise manner will screen technologies. The company will work on new molecules and identify the most promising ones and prioritizing them on the basis of their business potential and compatibility.

With robust R&D infrastructure, manufacturing facility and strong expertise, IBPL successfully launched several biotechnology products including G-CSF, Erythropoietin and Interferon. IBPL is aggressively working towards developing a product portfolio related to unique molecules.

Commenting on IBPL's association with Viropro, Dr Rustom Mody, head quality and strategic research, IBPL, said, "In line with the company's R&D strategy to develop innovative research technologies/new molecules related to biopharmaceuticals and identify partnership opportunities, the R&D agreement marks the beginning of a collaboration. The respective companies will explore the opportunities in development of future technologies."

IBPL is one of the fastest growing bio-pharmaceutical companies in India. As an independent biopharmaceutical entity of Intas group, the company has carved a niche in the biotechnology sector in the country. The company has fully integrated biopharmaceutical operations with an ultra modern R&D facility and an EU-GMP certified manufacturing facility approved to manufacture microbial and cell culture derived bulk drugs and finished products in pre-filled syringes and vials (lyophilized).

Viropro Inc. conducts operations through its subsidiary Viropro International Inc. Viropro is a rapidly expanding biopharmaceutical company specializing in the transfer of its technologies for industrial production of biogeneric therapeutic proteins for the treatment of various diseases including cancer, diabetes, hepatitis or multiple sclerosis. The company's principal objective is to provide manufacturing process technology transfers to pharmaceutical companies in emerging markets with unmet medical needs such as in South America, Asia and Africa. To expand its range of expertise in biopharmaceuticals, Viropro has concluded strategic alliances with various scientific and business partners renowned in national and international spheres.