New Delhi, July 10: A new clot dissolving drug used in treating heart attacks was today launched by Science and Technology Minister Prithviraj Chavan here.
The drug, developed by state-run Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTech), is being mass produced by Chennai-based Shasun Chemicals and Drugs, which has made foray into biotherapeutics by launching Streptokinase developed from recombinant protein.
“The drug developed from recombinant protein is of much higher purity than the one developed by using protein derived from natural bug,” said Girish Sahni, Director of Chandigarh- based IMTech, who discovered the new drug.
Streptokinase is a vital, life-saver injectable protein drug that saves upto 40 per cent of human lives after heart attacks if given within a few hours of the onset of chest pain.
The drug will be marketed by pharma companies Lupin and Alembic.
—Agencies