XCyton Diagnostics has tied-up with LV Prasad Eye Institute for the development of reversible DNA chips as a part of the government of India's New Millennium Initiative Technology (NMIT) project. The product which is a first of its kind in the country is expected to be ready within 2 years which is the time-frame for completion given by NMIT.

The two DNA chips to be manufactured by XCyton are for the identification of all infections of the eye and the other is for the detection of genetic markers for cataract and glaucoma. The Rs. 2 crore funded NMIT project has a time frame of 2 years for completion and XCyton will have to get going from September 2003 to start developing the chip. The company will have to give a preview on the sensitivity of the chip and provide the results of the product by March 2004, Dr. B Ravi Kumar, managing director, XCyton told Pharmabiz.com.

The NMIT project will commence with three eyes research centers - All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Sankara Netrayalaya, Chennai and LV Prasad Eye Research Institute which are assigned to conduct the preliminary studies on Nucleic Acid Diagnostics which will delve in the areas of ocular infectious. After the study is complete XCyton takes over the product development of the kit.

At the moment there are no financials involved but a royalty will be paid once the product is in the market, said Dr. Ravi Kumar.

Meanwhile XCyton has tied up with AstraZeneca India Research Foundation for the development of meningitis kit. The technology patent is held by AstraZeneca.

Currently it will take 6-8 months for the product to take off as the technical sensitivity tests are on the product which is for diagnosis of bacterial meningitis among children There are no financials involved in our association with AstraZeneca but a royalty will be paid to them, informed Dr. Ravi Kumar.

The company has been assigned to provide one million kits for HIV/HCV kits to the World Bank for the government of India AIDS prevention programme. It also has a marketing tie-up with Glaxo for the HIV and HCV kits .

Dr. Ravi Kumar said, "We were the first company in the country to produce the PCR kits (Polymer Chain Reaction) kits. Our plans are to come out with PCR kits for Tuberculosis, HIV/HCV and meningitis for which we have allocated Rs. 1.5 crore for expansion. We hope to generate revenues from Venture capitalists, loans and other sources."