Chandigarh-based Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), a scientific research institute, in developing a medicine which prevents blood clots.
India has achieved a major breakthrough in medical research with the efforts of a Chandigarh-based Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), a scientific research institute, in developing a medicine which prevents blood clots.
Its seven yeas of research recently led to the commercial launch of genetically modified recombinant streptokinase, a medicine that dissolves heart-attack causing clots inside blood vessels.
What is a Heart Attack / How to Prevent Heart Attacks
Heart attack is the death of the heart muscle due to loss of blood supply. Simple guidelines to avoid heart attack are listed.
Heart attack is the death of the heart muscle due to loss of blood supply. Simple guidelines to avoid heart attack are listed.
Established in 1984, the Chandigarh-based IMTECH is the youngest among the 38 national laboratories functioning under the aegis of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.
"This is a recombinant streptokinase which is much more economic as a result of the process by which it is made. So that the price of production of product is much lower than what it used to be previously. Therefore, this product has much more sustaining power and staying power in the market. The hope is that by the introduction of this drug the overall price the overall price of the clot buster drugs will go down. The clot buster drugs are extremely vital lifesaver drugs because when somebody gets a heart attack, within a few hours clot buster drug is given and about 30 to 40 lives can be saved. So it is a kind of SOS therapy, which before a patient can be wheeled into the hospital for bypass is done. This can save lives," said Dr. Girish Sahni, Director, IMTECH in Chandigarh.
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Ask any one who has experienced intense chest pain and they will vouch for the fact that it was the most frightening experience of their life!
Another thrombolytic protein, Staphylokinase has been licensed to M/S Strides Arcolab Ltd., Bangalore.
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Heart disease is a major killer worldwide in spite of major strides in the medical field in terms of research, diagnosis, treatment and pharmacology. HIV/AIDS and Alzheimer’s disease are vying for popular attention these days and people tend to sideline or neglect healthy heart awareness. Take our quiz and refresh your awareness on heart disease.
"Actually in all research you get different kinds of problems. And if you are doing this work, then the challenge is to make it commercially viable. So you have to develop a system that can be used for marketing a product, so you have to optimize the cost. For example in case of genetic engineering, in case of developing fermentation process, in case of downswing processing. So lot of effort is required," said Kanak Dikshit, a scientist with IMTECH in Chandigarh.
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Top 11 Latest Facts & Figures on Heart Attacks
Heart attack usually occurs when a clot blocks the blood supply to the heart. If not treated, it can lead to death. Here are must know facts on heart attacks.
Heart attack usually occurs when a clot blocks the blood supply to the heart. If not treated, it can lead to death. Here are must know facts on heart attacks.
And if no initiative is taken to check the disease, the most predictable and also preventable among all chronic diseases, India will have 62 million patients by 2015, compared to 16 million in the U.S.
The percentage of people suffering from heart disease had increased from 1-2 to 3-5 per cent in rural India and from 2-3 to 10-11 percent in urban India.
IMTECH's research in clot buster molecules will help provide an affordable treatment to heart patients.
Source-ANI
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