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Reliance group makes foray into biotech sector

Surajeet Das Gupta

Reliance group is making a major foray in biotechnology sector with research and development initiated on a bevy of new products.

Reliance Life Sciences, the company which has been set up by the group to foray in this area, has already started work on ReliCordan enriched blood that is used for treating patients with thalassemia, a serious blood disorder.

Details of the project, the first of its kind in the private sector, is still under wraps.

The group is also working on producing artificial skin products which will have a variety of uses. These products could be used for patients with burns, for testing of drugs and cosmetics on artificial skins, anti-cancer drug testing and as a sterile medium for stem cell preservation at low temperature.

The first batch of artificial skin products are expected to be tested abroad. The product could have large commercial usages and could become a large revenue earner for the group later on.

The group is also working on products in the area of assisted reproduction. A Reliance spokesperson, when contacted on the details of the group's forays, declined to comment.

Relicord, the new product, is being created from umbilical cord blood, which is rich in stem cells. The stem cells are strong enough to rebuild the immune system of patients suffering from thalassemia.

The group has already bought specialised equipment to collect, store and distribute placental blood from the US-based Thermogenesis Corporation.

According to industry specialists, the group's foray in biotechnology emanated from the need to maintain their competitive strength in the petrochemcials and chemicals business.

Internationally, the trend of research in this area is to artificially produce raw material used in the making of petrochemical and chemical products which at present are available naturally.

The company, which has already hired top-level scientists and researchers, is in touch with non-governmental groups involved in the treatment of thalassemia.

Bio-technology research in India is still in its infancy with just a few universities taking a lead in this area. Amongst the well known institutions focusing on this area include Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi, Tata Memorial Hospital in Bombay and Apollo Hospital in Madras. Most of the research is focused on development of replacements of cells in the heart, blood and liver.

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