The Business Bytes
National Institute of Ayurveda (NIA), Tata Memorial Hospital Mumbai, J&K Directorate General of AYUSH and Aimil Pharmaceuticals ink pact for clinical trials
TBB BUREAU
NEW DELHI, APR 11, 2023
In a first-of-its kind initiative, the National Institute of Ayurveda (NIA) under the Union Ayush Ministry, Tata Memorial Hospital-Mumbai, Directorate General of Ayush, J&K and Aimil Pharma have joined hands to conduct clinical trials of ayurvedic based anti-cancer drug V2S2 to test its efficacy.
Developed by the NIA experts, the formula V2S2 is prepared from hydro-alcoholic extracts of six medicinal plants. Its anti-carcinogenic properties have been already confirmed in laboratory tests. It has also been found to be effective in increasing immunity and inhibiting the growth of cancer cells. Now this agreement has been made for its formal in-vivo testing.
Soon after signing the pact, Jaipur-based NIA Vice-Chancellor Dr. Sanjeev Sharma said that the trials of medicine on animals will be started soon.
“These tests will be conducted at Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai in a period spanning 9 to 12 months. Depending on the results, trials on humans will be done by NIA and Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) AYUSH Department. The task of manufacturing the drug for the trial has been entrusted to Delhi-based Aimil Pharmaceuticals which will then launch it in the market for public consumption.
Apart from Dr Sanjeev Sharma, Aimil Pharma Vice-Chairman Dr. Anil Sharma, and Dr. Sandeep Charak of Directorate General of AYUSH, Jammu & Kashmir were present on the occasion at NIA Jaipur; while Tata Memorial’s Advance Center for Treatment, Research and Education (ACTREC) Principal Researcher Dr. Jyoti Kode joined virtually.
Describing this agreement as a milestone in the direction of cancer drug research, Aimil Pharmaceuticals Executive Director Dr. Sanchit Sharma said that in the next 2-3 years Ayurveda will be able to provide effective cancer treatment options to the patients in India and across the globe. He further said that the initial results of the drug were very encouraging, showing that it increases the immunity of humans and slows down the growth of cancer cells.
In fact, this is not the first time that Aimil Pharmaceuticals has been associated with the country’s premier research institutes to work on evidence-based research. In the past, it has successfully launched anti-diabetic drug BGR-34 developed by the CSIR, while Lukoskin, a drug developed by DRDO for Vitiligo, has benefited millions of people. It is the effort of the government that the medicines developed by the Government laboratories come out of the lab and reach the people. For this, partnership with the private sector is being increased, said Dr. Sanchit Sharma.
