Chennai firm to produce ayurvedic drugs for cancer thru nanotech

Chennai-based Dhanvantari Nano Ayushadi Pvt Ltd will produce nano ayurvedic medicine to treat cancer using green nanotechnology. The products are expected to hit the shelves in early 2018 after clinical trial.

Green nanotechnology uses herbs and spices such as cinnamon, tea or soyabean to synthesise gold nanoparticles. The activated gold nano particles are then used to make capsules and tablets that can be consumed. The technology is developed by Kattesh V Katti, Director, Institute of Green Nanotechnology, Medical School, University of Missouri in the US.

Addressing the media today, S Abhaya Kumar, Chairman, Nano Ayushadi, said clinical trials will start from August 1 under the guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH). Trials will be conducted over a period of 3-6 months on 100 people selected through random sampling. The company has invested ₹60 crore to license the technology, manufacturing unit and clinical trial. “With scientific backing, we expect to sell close to 20 million capsules initially,” he added. “In the next five years, we expect to be a ₹1,000-crore company,” he added.

The company is in talks with cancer institutes, hospitals and doctors to reach a wider audience. Kumar said products would be available through Ayurveda distributors and e-commerce platforms.

Talking about the effectiveness of the product, Katti , said that from the trials conducted on over 100 animals over a period of four years, nano ayurvedic medicine is found to reduce the tumour without side effects. When the medicine is taken alongside chemotherapy, it has shown to be effective, he added.