Ranbaxy, NCL and DST ink collaborative pact

Ranbaxy has entered into a collaborative agreement with the National Chemical Laboratories (NCL), Pune and the Department of Science & Technology (DST), New Delhi, in the area of New Drug Discovery.

Ranbaxy and DST will jointly fund NCL, under the aegis of the Pharmaceuticals Research and Development Support Fund (PRDSF), to synthesize novel anti-infective drugs.

The tripartite agreement was signed by Dr GS Samathanam, director, Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, New Delhi, Dr MK Gurjar, head and deputy director, Organic Chemistry Technology Division, NCL and Dr Kasim Mookhtiar, head, Drug Discovery, Ranbaxy.

Commenting on the development, Dr Brian W Tempest, CEO and managing director, Ranbaxy, said, "We are pleased to join hands with NCL and DST in this program of collaborative research. I believe the combination will release powerful synergies that will lead to the discovery and development of new and innovative medicines to combat infectious diseases."