TCG Lifesciences, the Rs 500-crore clinical research organisation (CRO) venture of the Chatterjee Group, plans to expand the scale and size of its business in India by venturing into the area of biotechnology to develop a portfolio of pre-clinical molecules for discovery of new drugs.

“Most of our research is currently focused on chemistry molecules; we want to expand our focus and are looking at working on biological molecules which goes into vaccines and antibodies,” said, Mr Swapan Bhattacharya, Managing Director, TCG.

The potential of biotechnology has been witnessing an exponential growth over the last couple of years, Mr Bhattacharya said. He was speaking at a press meet to announce the nomination of a pre-clinical development candidate under R&D (research and development) collaboration with the US-based pharma company, Pfizer.

The company is also exploring the possibility of expanding its laboratory facilities in the country. “We are in the planning process, it might take another year for us to firm up our plan,” he said.

TCG Lifesciences is a contract research organisation, which helps pharmaceutical firms in drug development by providing services in different trials of new molecules.

The company had entered into an exclusive collaboration with Pfizer, to develop a portfolio of pre-clinical molecules for discovery of new drugs. “Pfizer will own the pre-clinical drug candidate and other back up candidates while TCG will receive a milestone payment for its success in moving these molecules to the candidate stage,” Mr Bhattacharya said. There is a 15 per cent scope for the pre-clinical molecule to transform into a drug, he added.

> shobha@thehindu.co.in , >ayan.pramanik @thehindu.co.in

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