The Hindu Business Line : Suven Life to sharpen focus on drug discovery activity

Future plans
Suven would also focus on drug discovery in schizophrenia, depression and obesity-related fields.
It plans to set up a $25-m greenfield centre for drug research.

Hyderabad June 4 Hyderabad-based Suven Life Sciences is intensifying its drug discovery activity and will be filing its first Investigational New Drug Application (IND) related to Alzheimer's disorder in the US and India in June-July.

"Beginning with the first IND to be filed soon, we are aiming to file at least two INDs a year as part of our renewed focus on Drug Discovery and Development Support Services (DDDSS)," Mr Venkat Jasti, Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Suven Life Sciences, told Business Line.

Apart from the Central Nervous System (CNS) disorders, Suven would be focusing on drug discovery in schizophrenia, depression and obesity-related fields. Keeping pace with the future requirements of its drug discovery programme, the firm might set up its own phase I clinical trials division.

Research alliance

The company is also likely to forge collaborative research alliances with three US-based majors soon.

"Three major companies from the US have completed due diligence on collaborative research with Suven and the alliance is almost likely.

The tie-ups could be in the areas of cardiovascular, metabolic and CNS disorders," Mr Jasti said. Last year, the firm had entered into a collaborative research pact with global pharma major, Eli Lilly, on the pre-clinical research of molecules in the therapeutic area of CNS.

"We have achieved good progress and we are expecting some tangible results by the year-end. Suven would share the Intellectual Property (IP) along with its collaborative research partners," he said.

In line with its focus on DDDSS, Suven would be setting up a $25-million green field centre for drug research. "The centre will act as a nodal point for drug discovery and likely to be operational from 2009," Mr Jasti said.

Loan route

The plant is likely to come up at a 25-acre plot beyond Patancheru in the outskirts of the city.

The company would take the loan-route to meet the required funds for the project.

"We have enough leverage to go for loans," he added. On the manpower front, the company plans to add 300 more scientists to its core drug discovery team of 100 by 2009.

The R&D budget, which was at 24 per cent last fiscal, would be between 30 and 33 per cent this year, he said. The company spent Rs 27.58 crore on R&D during 2006-07 out of total revenue of Rs 1,14.58 crore, up 38 per cent over the previous year.

To leverage on its existing capabilities, Suven is foraying into formulations and Active Pharma Ingredients (APIs).

"Formulation development would be added soon while the API production will begin in the last quarter of current fiscal," Mr Jasti said.

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