The Hindu : National : New TB drug developed by Indian scientists

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Tuesday, Sep 07, 2004

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New TB drug developed by Indian scientists

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 6. In a breakthrough, a group of Indian scientists has developed a new molecule that promises to drastically cut down the time of the treatment of tuberculosis (TB) to just two months. The present regimen requires intake of drugs for six to eight months. Announcing this, the Union Minister for Science and Technology, Kapil Sibal, said the discovery was also significant as it had been found to clear out the ordinary strains and those that have developed resistance to the existing drugs.

Clinical trials soon

The molecule has been tested on mice and guinea pigs and proved to be highly effective. It is now ready for clinical trials on human volunteers.

An application has been filed with the Drug Controller General of India and he is expected to give clearance for the trial by this month end, Mr. Sibal said.

The molecule was developed under the CSIR's "New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Initiative" by pharmaceuticals major Lupin in collaboration with the Hyderabad University and the CSIR's National Chemical Laboratory, the Central Drug Research Institute, and the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology.

The discovery assumes importance as the existing drugs against the disease were becoming obsolete. Despite efforts by scientists across the world, new anti-TB drugs had not been developed since 1963.

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