Duke University joins hands with Jubilant to study chronic and metabolic diseases in India

Duke University will carry out two innovative biomarker studies in Kolkata, India in association with Jubilant Oraganosys on chronic and metabolic diseases prevalent in the country.

Duke University’s biomarker study form of a part of the broad-based agreement it has entered into with Jubilant Biosys, the research arm of Jubilant Organosys Limited, the leading Custom Research and Manufacturing Services (CRAMS) firm from India partnership aims to expedite translation of discoveries by Duke scientists into clinical therapies.

One of the Duke’s study will be the development of a cohort to gain insights into the clinical and molecular characteristics of several chronic diseases highly prevalent in the Indian population and to better understand these diseases in the context of transitioning rural to urban populations.

The second study will validate in an Indian population, with heart disease and diabetes, metabolomic biomarker signatures found to be associated with insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease in Caucasian populations.

Jubilant will fund the pilot phase of these studies in India and both studies will be led by Svati Shah, MD, MHS, Assistant Professor in the Division of Cardiology at Duke University School of Medicine and the Duke Global Health Institute, an official release from Jubilant said.

“Duke Medicine is the ideal academic health sciences partner for us to pursue our intent of building a world-class research capability as an overlay to our network of healthcare facilities that provide high quality, low cost care for economically weaker section and

rural communities in India,” said Shyam Bhartia, chairman & managing director & Hari Bhartia, co-chairman and managing director for Jubilant Organosys.

As per the terms of the agreement, Duke and Jubilant will work towards jointly selecting and managing a portfolio of translational research projects that leverages expertise and thought leadership from Duke University scientists and development capabilities including Duke and Jubilant will work together over a period of five years with the objective of developing a portfolio of 4-5 technologies at steady state over the period of collaboration.

Jubilant Bio-Duke university partnership, which is to be completed by the first quarter of 2010, will also advance both organizations’ mutual commitment to reducing global health disparities.

The non-exclusive collaboration will apply Jubilant’s demonstrated and proprietary portfolio of drug development capabilities toward discoveries made by the faculty of the Duke University School of Medicine.

This process aims to move early-stage translational technologies closer toward clinical application while creating value for both parties.

Jubilant Bio and Duke University will monetize successful technologies by licensing or partnering as appropriate and receive milestones/royalties.

Royalties paid to Duke would be churned back into support of promising faculty discovery research and further investments in translational technologies.

“This project and relationship will further the shared commitments of Duke Medicine and Jubilant to innovative translational medicine strategies and brings together incredibly strong complementary expertise in science and research & development,” said Victor J. Dzau, MD, Chancellor for Health Affairs at Duke, and CEO, Duke University Health System.

Duke Medicine is the lone academic health sciences center member of the Forum’s Healthcare Industries group.

The Duke Translational Medicine Institute (DTMI) and the Office of Licensing and Ventures (OLV) will coordinate the translational research component of this partnership for Duke University, while the Duke Global Health Institute (DGHI) will coordinate the cohort studies component.

Duke Medicine’s mission-based commitment to global health includes the Duke – National University of Singapore Graduate Medical School that is now in its third year of operation.

Students from around the globe are being trained in Duke’s innovative medical education model and faculty members have initiated a number of major research projects designed to answer questions of importance within the region.

Duke Global Health Institute (DGHI) has collaborations with institutions in China, Singapore, India, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Haiti, and is pursuing partnerships in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indonesia, Rwanda, Ghana, Honduras, Mexico, and other countries where Duke faculty have ongoing research, education, policy or service activities and interests.

Jubilant Biosys Ltd., a subsidiary of Jubilant Organosys Ltd., provides integrated drug discovery and development solutions to the global pharmaceutical industry. Jubilant Biosys has an integrated state of the art facility in Bangalore specializing in discovery biology,

medicinal chemistry, structural biology, pharmacology, toxicology, pharma chem, molecular modeling, crystallography and information technology supporting discovery efforts.

Jubilant Organosys Ltd has a presence across the pharmaceutical value chain for providing products and services such as proprietary products, exclusive synthesis, active pharmaceutical ingredients, contract manufacturing of sterile injectables & non-steriles products, radiopharmaceuticals, generic dosage forms, drug discovery services, medicinal chemistry services, clinical research services, and healthcare.