indiamarkets spoke to Prof Subbarao, Scientific Director and CEO, Vittal Mallya Scientific Research Foundation (VMSRF), about research activities, products offered by the Centre and their market entry.
 
 
 

indiamarkets: When and with what objective was the VSMRF set up?
Subbarao: The VMSRF in Bangalore was established by the United Breweries (UB) Group in 1987 in memory of Vittal Mallya as an independent centre for applied research, with biotechnology as its main thrust. Dedicated to innovative biotech research, the Centre has a small number of scientists trained in reputed institutions in India and abroad with funding from the UB Group.

VMSRF is recognised by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and Biotechnology, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Ministry of Finance, Government of India. The Centre has collaborative links with reputed research and academic institutions in India and abroad.

We have scientists with varied experience from biochemistry, biotechnology, natural products chemistry, synthetic chemistry, immunology and chemical engineering. In the past five years, we have developed novel technologies, which are safe and eco-friendly.

indiamarkets: Please tell us about some of these products.

Subbarao: We have, for instance, hydroxycitrisol, a unique soluble salt of (-) HCA from the fruits of Garcinia for weight control formulations. The formulation involves large-scale extraction of hydroxycitric acid from garcinia (Malabar tamarind) fruits for use in naturaceutical weight control formulations. It has the unique property of lowering appetite and thus helping in weight control. It also controls cholesterol. There are no side effects. It is non toxic and also can serve as a disinfectant and room freshener.

Hydroxycitrisol is freely soluble in water and can be pasteurised for use in foods and beverages. It can also be combined with chocolates and other foods without changing the taste. Other synthetic drugs that are available can cause side effects and have a “rebound effect” - that is, they cause rapid weight gain after weight loss.

Another product we developed is SoluNeem, a biopesticide which combines water soluble agents mainly azadirachtin A from ‘neem’ seed kernels. There are a large number of formulations with neem – as emulsifiable concentrates and suspension concentrates, but these do not dissolve in water. In fact, they degrade in water or sunlight and cannot be stored for too long. SoluNeem dissolves in water and can be used against a large number of pests.

SoluNeem is injected into the tree sap. It is a cost-effective biopesticide and has been found effective in coconut trees. Coconut trees in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala have been affected by diseases, against which this formulation could be used.

SoluNeem is produced with patented technology. It enhances thermostability and bioavailability, has a long shelf life and potentiates insect growth activity. It can be used in any integrated pest management programme and organic farming. Advanced countries have shown interest in the SoluNeem. About 12 neem formulations have been patented in India.

We have also developed CheckMite, a herbal aerosol spray for controlling house dust mites which cause allergies. Checkmite has been approved both in India and the US.

Mites are a major cause of dust allergy. The best way of preventing this is controlling the mite populations. Available formulations contain synthetic chemicals as ingredients and cannot be used in houses with children and pets. CheckMite spray ingredients are biodegradable and eco-friendly; safe to humans and domestic pets even at high concentrations.  Lab trial sand studies have shown it to be effective in controlling mites. It kills adult mites and disrupts the food chain of mites by eliminating fungus in the dust.

Dust mites are found in upholstery, furnishings and mattresses and about 10-30 per cent of the world’s people are affected by allergies caused by these mites. All mites belong to the same species and this spray can eliminate them all.

indiamarkets: How exactly does Checkmite work?
Subbarao: The product is of plant origin and has a miticide, a disinfectant and a food grade fungicide that are safe to humans and pets even at concentrated levels. The spray kills the mites and controls the mite population. The fungicide in it controls fungi that produce respiratory allergies in domestic environment. The mites live on the fungi, so again, the spray eliminates the food and thus disrupts the food chain of the mites.

indiamarkets: What other projects is the Centre working on?
Subbarao: Well, we are working on an anti-snake venom kit. This immuno diagnostic kit uses chicken eggs. It could be the solution to snake bites – there are about 3,00,000 reported snake bites in India and 10 per cent prove lethal due to lack of medical aid in time. The kit could be a good alternative to other existing antidotes that have side effects. We are aiming at “one egg for one bite”. The kit will take about two years before it can go on trials.

Another project that is nearing completion is that on recombinant human insulin. We have been working on this for the past five years along with the university of Leicester. Recombinant human insulin involves development of a novel strategy for expression of recombinant human insulin derivative in yeast and downstream processing of the product to evolve a commercially viable process.

This is in an advance stage of development and we will be marketing it soon. There are just a few snags that are being smoothened out before we are ready to transfer the technology to industry. It will make available cheaper insulin. We are in talks with some local companies here and we are exploring all avenues.

indiamarkets: What is your opinion of emerging fields like biotechnology and bioinformatics?
Subbarao: It is a good trend. Globally, there has been a sudden spurt in this field after the human genome mapping. As for drugs, there is work going on several fronts.  Work will have to zero down to one after, say 1,000 alternatives. Much work and expenses will be involved. It should be possible to reduce the time involved in developing these drugs and identify the right molecule to work on – we are still only at the tip of the iceberg. To move inwards from the periphery of this new field requires a lot of work.

indiamarkets: What impact will this have on the costs of drugs?
Subbarao: The cost of drugs will depend on competition.  Drugs are like any other product – competition will bring down prices.

indiamarkets: Is there any bias in developing medicines? Towards developing specific drugs?
Subbarao: No, the technology is the same and it will have international ramifications. It’s not as if drugs will be developed for some diseases and not for others. Drugs are drugs!

indiamarkets: How are the findings of the Centre brought into the market?
Subbarao: Here at this centre, the hydroxycitrisol is being licensed by the UB Global Corporation, which will manufacture and market this in India and abroad. We are also looking at the commercial aspect of our other products.

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