IICT develops molecule for gastrointestinal diseases

Hyderabad, Aug 5 (UNI) In a major breakthrough, the Hyderabad based Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) has isolated and extracted a new anti-gastric ulcer molecule for the first time from a well-known Indian medicinal plant to provide cheap treatment for gastrointestinal diseases.

Talking to newspersons here yesterday on the eve of the IICT's foundation day celebrations IICT Director J S Yadav said the new molecule code-named ''OA-5'' had shown potent anti-gastric ulcer activity against different types of ulcers including chemical induced, stress induced pylorus ligated and ethanol induced ulcers.

''The efficacy of broad spectrum nature of the molecule against different types of ulcers gives this molecule a definite edge over the existing drugs in the market.'' Animal studies in collaboration with Gulbarga University in Karnataka over the last one year had shown positive results and the molecule OA-5, was ready for pre-clinical toxicity trials'', he said.

Dr Yadav said the IICT was in talks with partners from industry to take the new molecules into clinical trials and had filed the application for conducting further investigation in the new drugs over the next 12 months.

The IICT expects the new drugs to be launched in the commercial market within the next three years.

The IICT had already filed application for patenting the new molecule globally, he added.

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