To explore the medicinal potential and development of potential Drugs from the Sea, the Minister of Earth Sciences has been exploring possibility for a systematic long term coordinated exploratory research programme.
In his information in Lok Sabha today, Minister of Earth Sciences Dr. Harsh Vardhan stated that samples from the sea are collected for identifying pharmaceutical potential of various biological elements under the coordinating responsibility of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow.
As of now, more than 14000 marine samples (both fauna and flora) were screened for wide spectrum of bioactivity against cancer, bacterial, fungal, parasitic, TB, viral infections, as well as against dyslipidemia (an abnormal amount of lipids (e.g. cholesterol and/or fat) in the blood) and diabetes. Successful breakthroughs have been achieved in respect of two marine products (CDR-134F194 and CDR- 267F018) and they are in different stages of development.
CDR-134-D123 (Anti-diabetic): Phase- I (consisting of both single dose and multiple doses) clinical trial was completed successfully on 36 volunteers and a dossier has been compiled and submitted to the department of Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH). It has since been licensed to TVC Sky Shop Limited for fast track marketing through AYUSH.
CDR-134-F194 (Anti-hyperlipidemic): It has since been licensed to TVC Sky Shop Limited. Permission for Phase I clinical trials have been obtained and the clinical trials will be initiated.
CDR- 267F018: (Anti-dyslipidemic): An anti-dyslipidemic standardized fraction on which most of the developmental work has been completed.
