Actis Bio to conduct trials of its cancer molecules in India

By agencies   |   Tuesday, 29 March 2005, 20:30 IST
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SAN FRANCISCO: Sanjeev Saxena co-founded research firm Actis Biologics is planning to conduct clinical trials of some of its promising oncology molecules in India. The Bay Area, San Francisco based company will do trials for colorectal and liver cancer molecules. The Indian trials will be conducted simultaneous to global trials. Actis' colorectal cancer molecule has reached phase II B stage of clinical trials in U.S. Its liver cancer molecule has entered phase I level and has received U.S. FDA approval to complete trials on a fast track basis. "Actis would like to do trials for colorectal and liver cancer molecules in India. We have plans to conduct trials for its colorectal cancer molecule, phase II B onwards. Senior officials in DBT (Department of Biotechnology) has assured of a fast track approval for Liver cancer trials," said Sanjeev Saxena, co-founder & CEO, Actis Biologics. The company is in the process of scouting partners for conducting trials in India. "We would partner with top Indian pharma companies for conducting trials in India. The partnering company could keep the benefit of marketing the molecules across the globe, except, U.S., Europe and Japan," he said. Actis and the partner company will jointly fund the clinical trials, he said. "The current market for colorectal cancer is about $4 billion. Leaving aside E.U., Japan and U.S., the market potential for the new molecule will be $400 million. Even by targeting a market share of 20 percent, the partner would be able to garner a market share of $80 million," said Saxena. Similar would be the arrangement for liver cancer molecule. Current market size for liver cancer is about $1 billion. There are less than 200,000 liver cancer patients in E.U. and U.S. The disease is prevalent predominantly in regions like China, South East Asia and Africa.