The Chennai based CRAMS and API exporting pharmaceutical company, Shasun Chemicals & Drugs Ltd is gearing up to develop a radio activated nano-particle targeted drug for shrinking tumours, said Dr. S. Abhaya Kumar, CEO and MD  of the company.

He was addressing a gathering at Sri Ramachandra University here after handing over the certificate of Good Laboratory Practice Certification (GLP) for the University’s Pre-clinical Toxicology Centre. For the development of the drug, Shasun entered into a contract with an American company, Nanoparticle Biochem Inc, a firm partly owned by University of Missouri, Columbia in 2011.

In the joint venture, Shasun has developed a nanotechnology using radio activated gold nano particles to cure solid tumour. In the process of treatment, the gold nano particles are inserted inside the tumour and they will kill the tumour from within in less than 21 days. Through this process, treatment for cancer is easier with no chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

According to Dr Abhayakumar, the Indian drug manufacturers are facing their biggest challenge in maintaining the quality and efficacy of the medicines they are producing because of the rising global standards. He hoped that the toxicology centre of the SRU would have the potential to become a global one owing to its infrastructure, skilled manpower and high standards.

He said Streptokinase, a clot dissolving drug, manufactured by Shasun in 2009 and marketed in many countries had undergone the first preclinical toxicology test at Sri Ramachandra University.

More drug manufacturing companies like Shasun will need the Preclinical Toxicology Centre of SRU in the future, he added.