Indore (Madhya Pradesh): The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Indore has developed new cost-effective drug asparaginase (MASPAR) using a protein engineering approach for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL).
The drug with no or fewer side effects has been developed after 12 years of research.
Leukaemia is a type of blood cancer and every year around 25000 new cases are found in India. The percentage of children among the patients is nearly one fourth.
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The repeated doses of asparaginase, which is currently used to treat all patients, can cause serious allergic reactions, hypersensitivity, and toxicity to the pancreas including many other organs.
In such a situation, this medicine will benefit the patients to a great extent. The medicine will also be of great use to the patients who recover and are again affected by the disease.
IIT-Indore in collaboration with advanced centres for cancer treatment, research and education, Tata Memorial Centers (ACTREC, TMC), Mumbai, and Mumbai-based bio pharmacy companies will soon start Phase I and Phase II clinical trials of the drug.
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In the first phase, 25 to 30 people will be tested for drug safety, tolerance.
Professor Neelesh Jain, director (officiating), said that research has always been the primary work of institutes like IITs.
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"Such developments in the field of human health lead to significant reductions in side effects and, most importantly, are essential to reducing treatment costs. The Institute strongly supports Phase I and II trials until a logical conclusion is reached,“ he added.
