The Pune-based Jehangir Hospital, managed by Apollo Group of Hospital. It has separated its clinical trial activity, which is known as Jehangir Clinical Development Centre (JCDC). The clinical trials activity, which commenced under the patronage of Hirabai Cowasji Jehangir Medical Research Institute, will now be further developed by JCDC.
The JCDEC is planning to establish a chain of hospitals across the country. The total investment and commissioning of facility are yet to be disclosed by the company.
Speaking to Pharmabiz, Pathik Divate, CEO, said, "We are planning to establish hospital and clinical development chains all over India. As of now it will take another seven to eight months for building the project. But presently, we are focusing on building trust with all its collaborators by providing quality results and increasing the speed to market the new drugs at the same time reducing the costs. At present, 60 doctors on the panel of JCDC. We are working on various therapeutic areas. But our major therapeutic segment is oncology, psychiatry, diabetes and gastroenterology".
Recently, Jehangir Hospital has signed a five-year contract with Wyeth Inc. for conducting its clinical trials in India. As per the agreement JCDC will be collaborating with Wyeth as an Early Clinical Development Centre (ECDC). In addition to Wyeth Inc., JCDC is conducting clinical trials for seven of the top 10 pharma companies worldwide and also all the big international Contract Research Organizations. Such agreements will help the institute to contribute to global research and more importantly enable it to offer the latest international treatment to patients who are not responding to drugs readily available in India.
"Our strategy will be to focus on meaningful research and develop long term relations by partnering with pharmaceutical and biotech companies. We have an independent ethics committee as per the international guidelines. Which acts as a vigilance board to prevent any questionable clinical trial to be taken up", he further added.
This is an innovative idea of Jehangir Hospital in India to have an independent and dedicated company with full time staff for conducting research. JCDC has set up world class facilities including separate archival space, temperature controlled drug storage, a fully equipped lab, IT infrastructure and a pool of consultants from all therapeutic areas on the panel. JCDC is also in the process of putting in place a quality control department to ensure that all guidelines as per international regulations and as per the requirements of the sponsor companies are being stringently followed.