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Pharma major Dr Reddy's Laboratories Ltd will start phase-II clinical trials for its drug to treat cardiovascular diseases in May 2011, according to its Founder-Chairman, Dr K. Anji Reddy.
Speaking after receiving the Genome Valley Excellence Award at biotech conference BioAsia 2011 here on Tuesday, Dr Anji Reddy said his company would be the third company in the world to work on developing a new drug in the area.
“The candidate, DRF 17822, is a CETP inhibitor which has the potential to increase HDL (high-density lipoproteins) cholesterol by about 110 per cent. At present drug-makers Roche and Merck have similar candidates in phase-III trials,” he said. According to Wikipedia, a CETP inhibitor a controls cholesterylester transfer protein (CETP). They are intended to reduce the risk of atherosclerosis (a cardiovascular disease) by improving blood lipid levels.
“This has huge potential as existing drug can only increase HDL by about 26 per cent,” he added.
Referring to the potential in the generics markets, Dr Anji Reddy said: “I know that the feast will never continue. An India-produced drug will definitely come.”
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