PhytoMyco Research Corporation (PMRC), a natural product-based drug discovery and development major, has been awarded a phase II Small Business Innovative Research grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to develop analogs of its lead Anti-fungal compound PM3010 for the control of various plant diseases of global market significance.

The company which is a development stage biopharmaceutical company with a proprietary Natural Product Library (NPL) plans to synthesize and optimize a series of anti-fungal agents that have been based on naturally derived PM3010 and to evaluate their efficacy in addressing rust diseases such as soybean rust, a serious problem that affects the agriculture industry on a global basis. It has also completed the Phase I portion of the USDA grant (in which they successfully characterized PM 3010).

While the key focus of the company is on proprietary NPL which includes plant and microbial extracts, it has expanded its development pipeline to include pure compounds that are ready for preclinical development and nutraceuticals/dietary supplement.

The company’s Pure Compound Library, which consists of over 350 drug candidates, has already yielded several novel lead candidates in cardiovascular, anti-cancer, and anti-bacterial drug leads. It is developing a nutraceuticals and dietary supplements programme based on the science that has already resulted in several licensing relationships for the pure compounds.

Dr. Ven Subbiah, founder and president, PMRC’s states, “Whether it involves extract library, pure compounds, or nutraceuticals, we make sure that our development programmes adhere to the highest scientific standards.”

According to Dr. Subbiah, the first half of 2005 has been significant as it completed two deals for a series of the anti-cancer pure compounds, and talks are on for its nutraceuticals. “The approval from USDA would allow us to mature our agrochemical initiative. The objective is to become a complete development-stage natural product company by being able to successfully participate in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and agrochemical industries.”

The company’s three development programmes include plant and microbial extracts, Pure Compound Library with over 350 drug candidates that have been prepared for preclinical development in various therapeutic fields and nutraceuticals for obesity, inflammation, and cancer. To ensure quality and integrity of the product and guaranteeing re-supply, PMRC farms are mainly located in Southeastern United States.