UK biotech cos ink pact with Shantha Biotech, Edutec

EPP News Bureau - Mumbai

City-based Shantha Biotech, a leading biotechnology company has inked a pact with Polytherics Ltd., a University of London spin-off company for technology transfer. This will enable Shantha to license Polytherase, a novel Pegylation Technology to make an affordable PEG interferon product for the treatment of hepatitis C, informed a press release. The two companies will collaborate in an accelerated drug development programme to commercialise effective, cost-effective and affordable treatment for millions of patients of hepatitis C. ‘‘This agreement is a shining example of how exciting innovations from our Universities in the UK can be rapidly turned into new and useful global healthcare products,’’ said Bristish High Commissioner Sir Michael Arthur after the signing of the agreement.

Another collaboration which took off at the Bangalore Bio 2005 was the tie-up between Zenosis a UK-based biotechnology company and Edu Tech India, a leading information learning service provider which will aid Indian bio-pharmaceutical companies get products at a faster pace into the global market. The company will now enter the market with specific modules addressed for the local requirements.

Simon Burgess, CEO Zenosis and ASF Karim, managing director of Edu Tech signed the agreement at the Discover UK Bio session of the Bangalore Bio 2005. The chief of Zenosis is bullish about the Indian market and said it could be possibly valued in the excess of US $100 million over the next five years. According to Karim, the tie-up came about at the right time when the regulatory e-learning and knowledge support system in the Indian market was beginning to take shape.