Bhat Biotech Develops HIV Detection Kit

Font Size

Print

Feedback

Email

Discuss

Bangalore, June 2: : The Bangalore-based Bhat Biotech India Pvt Ltd, engaged in diagnostics, had developed an indigenous card test to detect HIV infection. The test called - Pareekshak HIV 1/2 Triline test - offering cheap and reliable method to detect HIV infection is awaiting clearance from the Drug Controller.

Bhat Biotech claims to be the first company to have developed such a test in the country. As of now HIV card test kits were imported to India from countries like the US and China, but is not very popular as it is expensive.

Speaking to The Financial Express Bhat Biotech chairman and managing director Dr Shama Bhat said,‘‘We are waiting for the final approval from the drug controller to introduce the product to the market. The product has a huge potential and we would be able to introduce it in a much more affordable price compared to foreign companies’’.

Compared to the most popular and cheaper Elisa test or spot tests card test is much easier and does not require a highly skilled person to conduct the test, Dr Bhat said. Also the kit for rapid card test could be stored under room temperature, when for both the other tests it should be stored at 4 degree celsius.

Other than this, Bhat Biotech has developed HCV (Hepatitis C) kits, malaria, cancer, and TB diagnostic tools which are yet to be launched in the market.

The company also plans to get into the manufacturing of biotech-based pharma products and is looking for tie up with a multinational company for this, Dr Bhat said. ‘‘We are looking at biotech-based generic products like insulin, hepatitis-B, of which the patents are already expired’’ he added.

Bhat Biotech is also into making recombinant protein reagents for industrial biotech products and is in talks with companies to market the product abroad.

The company also eyes contract manufacturing and research in the area of diagnotic products in the next two years, Dr Bhat said. The company is also discussing with a national pharma company in the next 2-3 months in the area of diagnostics, he added.

The company which has already invested Rs 6 crore plans to invest about Rs 5 crore in the next 2-3 years.