far as finances are concerned, Mr
Prem Pandey, Director-Marketing
& Business Development,
mentioned, “India is now the
global hub for manufacturing
generics. However, there is
neither an ecosystem nor risk
capital available for development
of new drugs. It was quite a
daunting task in the founding
years to find smart investors with
long term vision with certain
degree of risk taking abilities in
India. Despite these unfavourable
conditions, we managed to raise
the seed capital from couple of
angels to complete the preclinical
efficacy studies.”
To overcome limited financial
influx, the company has
established and proven the
business model already and now
numerous venture capital firms
are showing their interest. The
founders are in talks with few of
them to infuse the next round of
funds that will catapult Oncocur
India to conduct clinical trials.
Competition is just a cakewalk
The founders believe that they are
operating in drug discovery space,
a forte of small companies that is
an edge they have over
established pharma companies.
Within the drug discovery
domain, the Oncocur India’s focus
is on nanomedicine derived from
phytochemicals and the company
is first among few pre-eminent
nanomedicine companies in the
world in this space. Since
nanoparticle drugs are still being
investigated at the academic level,
the founders say they see
themselves years ahead from a
market perspective. The potential
of nanomedicine technology is yet
to be tapped but is rapidly
emerging, and team envisions
bright future of the company
and investors.
The company has already
collaborated with leading
academic institutes like Savitribai
Phule Pune University, research
institutes such as National Centre
for Cell Science and APT Research
Foundation. In addition, Oncocur
India is closely working with
prestigious Ivy league institutions
such as the University of
Cambridge, UK.
Govt’s handholding would be
a boost
“Make-in-India is good initiative
by the incumbent govt to
encourage entrepreneurship and
offers limited assistance in the
form of tax incentives for Oncocur
India’s research activities.
However, the risk capital required
for the discovery is astronomical
and there is no established
business model for creation of
capital intensive knowledge in
India at the moment,” says Dr
Kanuru while adding, “For
example in countries like in UK,
even the local government and
city council offer risk capital and
substantial grant funding for the
drug discovery startups.”
Oncocur India plans to launch
couple of anti-cancer adjuvants,
maintenance and prevention
drugs next year from the herbal
extract vertical. On the
phytochemical front, it will be
filing two more patents,
completing preclinicals for two
drugs and filing new drug
application for clinical trials.
If one looks at the unmet needs
of millions of cancer patients in
currently available medical
options, the potential of an
affordable indigenous
nanomedicine surely will bring
smiles on sullen faces. Hope
never dies!
DR VIJAY KANURU
Dr Vijay Kanuru is the founder and
chief of Oncocur India. He is a
serial entrepreneur, leads
management strategy,
technology innovation and
execution to achieve business
goals by identifying, prioritizing
and implementing both
technology and business
development portfolios. Vijay
holds the master’s degree in
chemistry from Pune University,
doctorate from prestigious
Cambridge University, UK and
post-doctoral stint at Cornell
University, US.
PREM N PANDEY
Prem N Pandey is the co-promoter
and marketing head of Oncocur
India. He has got experience of
close to ten years in marketing
and business development
cutting across industries. His
belief in grassroot marketing and
down to earth approach makes
him stand out of the TYPICAL
corporate crowd. Prem holds
master’s degree in biotechnology
from Pune University.
BIOVOICENEWS.COM
25