Dr Deepa Chitre, CEO, AyurCore, Inc., said: "The new facility will develop in-house research products in an accelerated fashion and also do contract research for other companies." The R&D centre will be involved in all steps in drug discovery and development including chemistry, pharmaceutics, microbiology, pathology, pharmacology, toxicology and clinical research.

The San Jose-based biotech company has invested around $ 8 million in the US and Indian operations. The company's leading product is Artrex, a US patented product for long-term management of arthritis. This product is on sale in the Pacific Rim and is awaiting registration in 17 more countries, Dr Chitre said. AyurCore has another US patented product, BV-6, for degenerative central nervous system disorders such as seizures, strokes, Alzheimers and multiple sclerosis. Currently under development is IM-10, an active fraction of single plant that prevents harmful immuno-suppressive side effects of cancer chemotherapy. The current focus on the company is on drug discovery and Bio-Ved's approach is to do the early development work in India, Dr Chitre said. This research is conducted and validated to meet US and other international standards which translates into savings in time and money.

The company is getting into cosmoceutical line of products for skin care and is planning to set up a US GMP manufacturing plant in Pune.