Leveraging the genome

E Kumar Sharma

For some, the mapping of the human genome is the run-up to mankind's comprehension of the meaning of life. And a crucial stage in learning how to create it (life). A genome, after all, is nothing but a sort of working manual for creating an organism. To quote a publication released by the US Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory: " ...the genome contains the master blueprint for all cellular structures and activities for the lifetime of a cell or an organism". While the ability to engender humanoid lifeforms in the petridish is an extreme (and slightly fantastic) perspective of the fall-out of the human genome project, the belief that the project will engender a revolution in health care has its roots grounded in terra firma.

Already, a few Indian companies--like Ranbaxy Laboratories, Biological E, and Bharat Biotech--have kick-started projects that seek to tweak the genomic data so as to formulate diagnostics, or identify new ways of treating genetic disorders. And some of these companies have tied up with the Hyderabad-based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), which hosts some of the finest research facilities in the country.

"With some help from CSIR, Biological E, and American company Amershan Pharmacia, we are in the process of creating a DNA chip technology that can study DNA chain sequences," claims Lalji Singh, 52, Director, CCMB. Shorn of jargon, any technology that facilitates the study of DNA chain sequences can diagnose certain genetic disorders and identify the causes for them. The CCMB is also in the process of initiating a project that will build a transgenetic animal model for human genetic diseases: here, genetic defects commonly found in humans will be created and treated in mice and other animals. Says Mahima Datta, 23, in-charge of strategic business development at Biological E: "The idea of a long-term research collaboration with CCMB is to acquire the capability to eventually tackle disorders at the therapeutic level."

Another Hyderabad-based biochemical company--Bharat Biotech--has also expressed its intention to identify certain proteins as a first step in the process of creating formulations. Says Krishna M. Ella, 42, Chairman and Managing Director, Bharat Biotech: "At the end of the day any research arising from the human genome project is beyond the means of a single company. It would require a co-operative effort between local and global companies, and a minimum investment of Rs 200 to Rs 300 crore." Bharat Biotech's emphasis is on cardiovascular therapy. The company--in association with CSIR's Centre for Biomedical Technology--is exploring the possibility of what it calls molecular bypass gene therapy for people who cannot undergo surgery (case in point: diabetics).

Leveraging the deciphering of the human genome to develop formulations that can treat genetic disorders, even, cardiovascular ones, is a high-end approach. Indian companies can also benefit by adopting a low-end approach and looking at the treatment of diseases like TB. "The immediate applications--of the deciphering of the genome--could even be in the area of infectious diseases. India is host to a number of re-emerging diseases like plague and TB," says V. Ramalingaswami, 80, Chairman, Ranbaxy Science Foundation. Ranbaxy Laboratories, for its part, is in the process of scanning the data made available in the public domain after the breakthrough in deciphering the human genome. "The aim," says Ramalingaswami, "is to design products not just for treatment but for active immunisation." Could this be the beginning of the Indian pharmaceutical industry's research renaissance?

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