Date:11/01/2008 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/01/11/stories/2008011152281100.htm

Back Cellworks tool to aid Orchid research

Our Bureau

Bangalore, Jan. 10 Cellworks Research India Ltd, Bangalore, said its systems biology solution has shown good results in an ongoing drug discovery programme of Orchid Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

Orchid is the first Indian pharma company to adopt Cellworks’ systems biology technology to improve efficacy in its research for a new chemical entity for inflammation disorders, said the R&D wing of California-based Cellworks Group Inc.

The two began their collaboration in early 2006. The aim was to identify the mechanism of action of key drugs that are being used in industry to treat inflammation disorders.

According to Dr C. Bhaktavatsala Rao, Deputy Managing Director, Orchid Chemicals, “We were able to quickly ascertain which biological receptor target to focus on”, by adopting the Cellworks systems biology platform. It would help to develop better drugs with fewer side-effects, he said.

According to Dr Anandkumar, Chairman, board of Cellworks Research India Ltd, “The collaboration between Orchid Chemicals and Cellworks is ongoing in different drug discovery areas pertaining to inflammation.”