The Hindu Business Line : UK co ClinTec entering drug development

Bangalore will support and drive the work at the newly opened global centre in Munich and in the UK, on discovery, regulatory and drug safety issues apart from drug trials.

Madhumathi D.S.

Bangalore, Oct. 11 ClinTec International Ltd, the UK-based clinical research organisation, says it is chalking out plans for a major foray into drug development, alongside a significant expansion of its Indian outfit.

The Bangalore-based unit, started five years ago, will be developed into an important global centre and a 100-member Asia hub over three years. It will be expanded to 2-3 major cities, according to ClinTec’s President & Founder, Dr Rabinder Buttar. Bangalore will support and drive the work at the newly opened global centre in Munich and in the UK, on discovery, regulatory and drug safety issues apart from drug trials.

“We have a huge plan here,” she told Business Line without divulging any investment figures. She, however, indicated that the company she fully owns could be opening up to new investors.

BIOTECH DRUGS

From a 10-year experience of doing 150 clinical trials for global drug majors, the Windsor-based company is ready to move into drug designing, discovery and consulting, Dr Buttar said. “It will be known in India for other things, too.”

A biotechnology division has been recently started to develop ClinTec’s own therapeutic compounds. “Down the years, there will be a full service CRO for global projects while a [separate] biotechnology company, too, is emerging. We are working on our own compounds. We are looking at a big pipeline.”

In talks with pharma cos

There could be options of licensing potential drug molecules from Indian and US R&D companies. “We are in active talks with pharma majors in India, Europe and the US.”

Dr Nuggehally Srinivas, Executive Vice-President- Global Drug Development, who joined as head at the Bangalore outfit in July this year, said a portfolio of niche drugs for tumours such as osteosarcoma was being pursued.

According to Dr Buttar, while there is good research in India, domestic companies are not confident of taking their drugs to the Western markets. “We can help them in co-development, marketing, and support on a very flexible basis,” she said. In one co-development venture, ClinTec in September 2006 tied up with Dr Reddy’s to pursue a cancer drug, DRF 1042.

ClinTec’s global CRO businessdoubled sales since last year. The Bangalore operations are on an upswing and according to Dr Srinivas, headed for an “unbelievable expansion.” The unit is moving into its own, bigger premises, adding a pre-clinical research service. It currently offers the full range of services including the core business of data management; regulatory support; medical writing; pharmacovigilance and drug safety.

“Poland, for instance, too, does local and international clinical research projects but does not have all these functions that Bangalore has,” Dr Buttar said.

ClinTec, earlier this year, roped in senior executives from top life sciences companies, both in India and Munich. The Munich centre would train the 15 sites across Europe, the US, Africa and the Gulf region.

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