Dr Reddy's ink pact with Purdue varsity for drug research

The US-based Purdue University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dr Reddy's Laboratories Limited (DRL) to strengthen pharmaceutical research and development. According to a statement issued by the University, the intent of the MoU is to forge a strong strategic partnership in a range of research areas and novel technologies in the field of pharmaceutical processes and product development. DRL offers more than 200 generic versions of medicines in 26 countries around the world.

Suresh Garimella, Purdue executive vice-president for research and partnerships, and his counterpart Amit Biswas, executive vice-president and global head of integrated product development, signed the MoU last month. The MoU will advance the "Purdue Moves" drug discovery initiative to translate basic research into life-changing treatments, the release said. "Purdue has tremendous strength in pharmaceutical drug discovery and development research, but we need additional partners to help translate our discoveries through the delivery of a medicine or technology," Garimella said.

"The partnership with the Indian drug maker combines strengths that could lead to world-changing research," he added. Areas of planned collaborative research and education include targeted drug delivery, manufacturing technology, scale-up of pharmaceutical operations, process engineering, and research and development methodologies and technology. "The collaboration will include student engagement and faculty exchanges and may include a site at Purdue Research Park," the statement further said.

Biswas said the long-term research partnership will help accelerate innovative drug development and manufacturing excellence. "The long-term research partnership augurs well for DRL's philosophy of providing access to innovative, high-quality medicines to global patients at affordable cost," he added.