Process Technology

We are developing paradigm-shifting process improvement technologies to enable the cost-effective production of biologics and biosimilar drugs for the Indian market. Biologics sometimes referred to as large-molecule drugs, are protein-based therapeutics that are produced using unique cell lines, including mammalian cells, yeast, and bacteria. Unlike small-molecule drugs and generics that are manufactured via chemical synthesis, biologics undergo essential post-translational modifications when manufactured in living cells.

Through our biologics manufacturing technology, we plan to:

  • Significantly decrease operating expenditures, overall bioprocess line downtime, and biological product loss when compared to traditional monoclonal antibody manufacturing approaches
  • Increase the overall purity of monoclonal antibodies
  • Replace centrifugation and depth filtration processes
  • Replace all traditional column chromatography process steps (e.g., Protein A affinity column chromatography, ion exchange chromatography, hydrophobic interaction chromatography)
  • Enable the utilization of smaller, more streamlined equipment (e.g., smaller bioreactor volumes and downstream bioprocess equipment)

Biotechnology - Stroke Program

We are developing a technology which will be a step change, market leading drug in the treatment and diagnosis of acute stroke.
  • Perfluorocarbon molecule (PFC) perfluoro (t-butylcyclohexane)
  • Innovative emulsion technology
  • Intravenous product already used in clinical trials
  • Delivers O2 where required
The oxygen-carrying and delivery properties of the molecule enable diagnosis using specific MRI software.
  • Technique 1 utilizes a Blood Oxygen Level Dependent Magnetic Resonance Imaging signal based on the different magnetic properties of deoxy- and oxyhemoglobin in blood (paramagnetic and diamagnetic, respectively).
  • Technique 2 uses Lactate Change Imaging, which detects changes in lactate in penumbra co-incident with increased oxygen delivery during oxygen challenge.

Treatment: can be used a treatment for ischemic stroke and could extend the therapeutic time window by protecting tissue at risk of ischemia due to its high capacity to carry and efficiently deliver oxygen to tissues that lack oxygen using precision medicine.

Diagnostics: provide diagnostic metabolic and inflammatory information, which will inform the use of therapeutics in ischemic stroke, ischemic heart diseases, cancer, and other indications.

Biotechnology - Infectious Diseases

Ventilatory support is currently the cornerstone of management for COVID-19 patients with respiratory impairment. This ranges from, oxygenation via a face mask, high-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO), continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIV), to invasive mechanical ventilation. Ideally patients would be best managed with a face mask (Green zone) as this is easy to administer and does not require intensive management. The other techniques such as high-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO), continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIV) and invasive mechanical ventilation need specialized equipment and skilled operators. COVID-19 has put enormous pressure on healthcare authorities to increase the number of ICU beds, to accommodate critically ill patients.

A common and prominent complication of advanced COVID-19 is acute hypoxemic respiratory insufficiency requiring oxygen and ventilation therapies. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), most patients with COVID-19 infection will be managed with home isolation and symptomatic relief, with only 20% of symptomatic patients requiring hospital admission.

Any means of improving oxygenation by only using a face mask could reduce or mitigate the need for ICU beds. This could be transformational in the management of hypoxemic COVID-19 patients, especially in the developing world. We envisage that our products, due to their capacity to carry oxygen, will be a solution to improving blood oxygenation using a face mask and thereby keeping the patient in the green zone managed in a medical bed and preventing progression into the ICU.

Formulation Technology - Women’s Health

Vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) is a common, underreported and severely overlooked medical condition whose urogenital symptoms (e.g. dyspareunia, vaginal dryness, vaginal irritation, increased urinary tract infections) will be experienced by most women at some point in their lives. The progression of VVA is directly correlated to declining levels of estrogen with the onset of menopause. Our platform formulation technology comprises the development of an emulsified cream that uniquely combines specific combinations of well-known, generally recognized as safe (GRAS) ingredients that manifest a range of physicochemical properties to mimic the dynamic surface of the vaginal mucosa.

The initial product will serve as the base formulation across all our pipeline products, as this base formulation is designed to easily incorporate active ingredients to create a pipeline of over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription products across a number of vaginal health-based pathologies.