Mallya's biotech R&D lab seeks US patents

Flamboyant liquor baron Vijay Mallya has a little known research centre  --  Vittal Mallya Scientific Research Foundation -- which now plans to commercialise its patented technologies. The Bangalore-based biotechnology research laboratory undertakes R&D work in the field of agriculture and medicine.

Mallya, UB group chairman, said, "VMSRF has developed some path-breaking products and we are looking at commercialising them." VMSRF has obtained six US patents (Hydroxycitrisol, Checkmite, Soluneem, recombinant human insulin, Phosvitin and calcium channel blockers).

Hydroxycitrisol is a natural anti-obesity and cholesterol reducing nutraceutical prepared from the fruits of Garcinia (kokum).

CheckMite is an aerosol spray which controls house dust mites, a major cause of allergies, particularly bronchial asthma. Soluneem is world's first water soluble and eco-friendly neem-derived biopesticide that controls variety of plant pests.

"In the absence of any other effective and safe control measure for house dust mites, CheckMite has tremendous market potential across the globe and particularly in the US," said PV Subbarao, scientific director and chief executive officer of VMSRF.  The technology has been licensed to Mysore-based Candor Laboratories.

Negotiations are underway with a German company to introduce CheckMite with the brand name Nimbasan in the European market. Currently, VMSRF is working on getting EPA (Environment Protection Agency) clearance for Checkmite to market in the US, Subbarao added.

VMSRF has licensed Hydroxycitrisol to Laila Impex, Vijayawada, a major manufacturer and exporter of hydroxycitric acid.

VMSRF has entered into a collaboration with Diakron Pharmaceuticals, a San Diego-based start-up company, to develop novel drugs for cardiovascular diseases.

A new generation of calcium T-channel blockers has been synthesised by VMSRF scientists and Diakron has identified a few lead molecules for which a US patent has been granted.

VMSRF also developed technology to produce recombinant human insulin in yeast for which patents have been awarded in the US and UK.

"However, further R&D is needed to make it commercially viable. Efforts are underway jointly with Bigtec, Bangalore," Subbarao added.

VMSRF is currently working with the department of biotechnology on alternate and safe methods for species identification and treatment for life threatening poisonous snakebites.

"We are currently working on optimisation of immunisation protocols and purification methods for large-scale production of anti-snake venom with good recoveries and prolonged shelf life. We also need to establish safety and efficacy of the egg anti-snake venom before releasing for Phase II clinical trials," said Subbarao.

Started in 1987 by Vijay Mallya in memory of the group founder, it is a non-profit organisation and was initially funded by UB group companies (United Breweries, McDowell and Herbertsons) and is now directly funded by Mallya.

The UB group had set up UB Biotech for making a foray into the sunrise biotechnology sector but nothing has shaped up on this front yet.