|
News Capsule- National
geneOmbio Technologies' focuses on HIV research
Usha Sharma - Mumbai
A three year old customised DNA-based service provider company geneOmbio Technologies
is carrying extensive research work in the area of HIV. It has recently obtained
Treat Asia Quality Assessment Scheme (TAQAS), for HIV-genotypic. The company
is also in the process of introducing several more kits in the market. (TAQAS
is a WHO body for certifying HIV drug resistance testing).
HIV/AIDS diagnostics is the prime focus of geneOmbio. With the collaboration
of Institute of Infectious Diseases, Pune, geneOmbio has developed the most
economical HIV genotyping for drug resistance test and the quality is monitored
and validation is periodically done by the TAQAS a quality assurance scheme
of TREATAsia (Therapeutics Research, Education, and AIDS Training in Asia),
an international body having a network of clinics, hospitals, and research institutions
working with civil society to ensure the safe and effective delivery of HIV/AIDS
treatments throughout Asia and the Pacific.
Speaking on the regulatory approval, Bikash Aich, Director - Research and Projects,
GeneOmbio Technologies, said, "The regulatory body has cleared our lab
for the panel six of wet samples, with the existing therapeutics presence. The
respective regulatory body had sent us the samples of HIV few months back for
producing verified samples. On the basis of samples we have produced verified
reports to them. Simultaneously, we are actively working on hepatitis B virus
(HBV) drug resistance, which is in the final stage of completion and shortly
expected in the market."
geneOmbio has acquired appropriate government approval for importing HIV infected
clinical samples from Australia. "We are also doing contract research in
genomics and veterinary genomics which is highly specialised for cattle industry.
We are also looking at therapeutic areas like malaria, dengue etc. We will also
be introducing more specialised kits of which few are already exist in the market”,
Aich commented.
geneOmbio has its R&D facility at Pashan-Sus road in Pune. The company is
investing approximately Rs 15 crore for setting up new labs for agri-biotech
and proteomics in its existing facility within a year. At present three of its
laboratories are recognised by Department of Scientific and Industrial Research
(DSIR). The company is actively providing diagnostic services to qualitative
detection of MTB, HBV, HCV etc. and quantitative real time PCR tests for HBV,
HCV and MTB.
Summing up with its expansion plans, Aich, averred, " We are increasing
our workforce across India. Overall we have manpower strength of 37 including
18 full time scientists and experts. We are planning to add 30-40 more people
by early 2010. With an aggressive effort in R&D we are expecting that our
turnover in next five years will definitely touch Rs 100 crore."
u.sharma@expressindia.com
|
