Avesthagen Limited, India’s leading knowledge based Life Sciences Company today announced the permission to Avesta Biotherapeutics & Research Private Limited (ABRPL) to enter into a pivotal pre-clinical safety and efficacy evaluation study for three of its biopharmaceutical product development programs. The Review Committee for Genetic Manipulation (RCGM) authorized by the Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India has approved ABRPL’s applications for conducting a pre-clinical evaluation of the these biopharmaceutical products at recognized contract research facilities.

These biopharmaceutical products are being developed as per global regulatory standards by ABRPL, a joint venture between Avesthagen Limited and Meditab Specialities, and are targeted at important therapeutic indications namely, rheumatoid arthritis, anemia resulting from chronic renal failure or chemotherapy and colorectal cancer.

Avesthagen Limited is one of the pioneering developers of these high-technology entry barrier products that will eventually be launched in the Indian market. Company sources revealed that said products will progress to clinical evaluation during early 2009 based on the outcome of the pre-clinical evaluation.

In line with Avesthagen Limited’s mission to research, develop and commercialize cutting edge biopharmaceutical products through global partnership programs from India, these advanced therapeutic solutions that are currently out of reach for almost all Indian patients will be made available at affordable cost.

Dr. Villoo Morawala-Patell, Founder & CMD, Avesthagen Limited, said, “Biopharmaceuticals offer several advantages such as highly effective and potent action, fewer side effects and the potential to actually cure diseases rather than merely treat the symptoms. These advantages, combined with the increasing number of new diseases that can be treated with biopharmaceuticals, are driving enhanced production of these drugs worldwide. We are very happy to enter the pre-clinical evaluation marking another landmark in our Biopharmaceutical product portfolio.”

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About AVESTHAGEN LIMITED

AVESTHAGEN LIMITED (www.avesthagen.com) is India’s leading integrated systems biology platform company that focuses on achieving convergence of food, pharma and population genetics leading to predictive preventive and personalized healthcare. It employs 600 people worldwide and is headquartered in Bangalore. Avesthagen Limited has established world class, state-of-the-art laboratory facilities in Bangalore. It began business operations in 2001.Since its inception Avesthagen has grown into one of India's leading healthcare technology group in India, and its activities include, in addition to its agri-biotechnologies product pipeline, development of clinically validated botanical bioActives, derived from Indian medicinal plants, as well as the development of a pipeline of bio-similar drugs. Avesthagen Limited has four strategic business units: bioPharmaceuticals, bioNutrition, bioAgriculture and Science & Innovation. Its partners include multiple top 10 global companies in each of its fields of research. Avesthagen Limited collaborates at every stage in the value chain with appropriate partners, both public and private, for access to and exchange of technology and overall commercial expertise to leverage the ‘India advantage’.