Pharma firm,university join hands to manufacture drug

Dr Gulati added,“A survey revealed that Joshanda did not enjoy worldwide popularity because the boiling process is found cumbersome. So,our department thought to work on it and convert the mixture into cough drops,which are called as Joshanda lozenges.”

She said the drug has a long lasting soothing effect which also shows remarkable inhibitory activity on the bacteria. “Other results proved Joshanda to be an effective drug as against other prescribed cough suppressants. When taken,there are no side effects,” Dr Gulati added. Satyakam Rahul,Managing Director,Synkrom Healthcare,confirmed that the company would manufacture Joshanda lozenges. “The department has done its job at the research level. We have signed an agreement and will evaluate the data,after which it will be filed for an international patent. Later,we will also take approval from the Food and Drug Authority,” he added.

Speaking about the agreement,Parikshit Bansal,in charge of the Intellectual Property Rights Cell at the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research,Mohali,said,“Research should not just be restricted to labs. Joshanda is a traditional medicine which has been found effective against cough and other respiratory disorders. If found commercially viable,such a research can be turned into a market drug.”