Page 54 - CW E-Magazine (Oct-Nov-2023)

Happenings

Laurus Labs increases its ported ImmunoACT in creating GMP Supriya will lead the manufacturing
stake in lmmunoACT manufacturing facility along with an and marketing of ioProtein in India.
R&D facility at Navi Mumbai.
Furthering its access to novel cell “This marks the introduction of
and gene therapy technology, Hyder- COLLABORATIONS a new category of protein powders in
the Indian market, and it is relatively
abad-based pharmaceutical company, healthier compared to other popular
Laurus Labs has acquired an additional protein powders available through vari-
7.24% stake in Immunoadoptive Cell Supriya Lifescience and
Therapy Pvt. Ltd. (lmmunoACT), an US-based Plasma Nutrition ous gyms, general stores, and digital
advanced cell and gene therapy com- to collaborate on protein marketing channels,” Supriya stated.
pany for Rs. 80-crore. technology Kasturba Medical College

Laurus Labs’ stake in Immuno- Supriya Lifescience Ltd., a Mum- signs MoU with CSIR-CDRI
ACT will now increase to 33.86% on bai-based company specialising in for AMR research
fully diluted basis, post completion of APIs, has announced a collaboration
the deal. The company had already ac- with Plasma Nutrition, Inc, a Delaware, Kasturba Medical College, Mani-
quired 26.62% stake in ImmunoACT in US-based company known for innova- pal, has signed a Memorandum of Un-
November 2021. tive consumer products. The strategic derstanding (MoU) with CSIR-CDRI
partnership involves an exclusive tech- (Central Drug Research Institute), Luc-
ImmunoACT has portfolio of Chi- nology licensing agreement, granting know, to enter into a private-public part-
meric Antigen Receptor T cells (CAR- Supriya the sole rights for manufac- nership for developing research work
T cells) therapy assets under various turing and marketing Ingredient Opti- on anti-microbial resistance (AMR).
development stages for the treatment mised Protein (ioProtein) in India.
of multiple auto-immune diseases and There will be collaborative research
oncology indications. to co-develop molecular characterisa-
tion and point-of-care diagnostics for
This fresh infusion of capital, Lau- multidrug-resistant (MDR) and exten-
rus Labs said, will enable ImmunoACT sively drug-resistant (XDR) pathogens.
to fast track the additional supply of
the lead candidate HCAR-19 for can- “It is anticipated that this collabora-
cer, along with the further expansion of tion between two reputable institutions
the multi-location good manufacturing that have distinguished themselves in
practices (GMP) facilities for manufac- the field of AMR research would pres-
turing CAR-T cells treatment for blood ent special chances and results in the
cancers to support the growing need for quest for antimicrobial resistance-re-
scalable manufacturing. lated solutions,” said Dr. N. Kalaiselvi,
According to a statement by Su- Director General, CSIR.
The company said that addition- priya, the primary purpose of this col-
ally, some promoters and senior man- laboration is to bring the optimised Corona Remedies, Ferring
agement of Laurus Labs would also protein into the Indian market. ioPro- Pharmaceuticals to
acquire in ImmunoACT a 0.54% stake tein is made by a patented process collaborate
before this investment for approxi- (patent pending in the US) and is de-
mately Rs. 4-crore at the same price signed for use as protein supplements Ahmedabad-based healthcare play-
and terms through secondary purchas- and boasts a significant advantage, as er Corona Remedies Pvt Ltd has inked
es. However, the current promoters of it is highly bioavailable. This means an agreement with Ferring Pharmaceu-
ImmunoACT will continue to lead the that higher amounts of proteins are ab- ticals Pvt. Ltd, a subsidiary of Switzer-
management and operations of Immu- sorbed quickly by the body, providing land-based global biopharmaceuticals
noACT. consumers with a more effective and company Ferring Pharmaceuticals, to
efficient protein supplement. commercialise innovative products in
Laurus Labs’ earlier investment in the field of maternal health & urology
ImmunoACT in November 2021 sup- During the term of the agreement, in the Indian market.

50 Chemical Weekly October / November 2023