27/05/2021
Humble Pai: Founder of the Antidote to Black Fungus
With cases of mucormycosis or so-called black fungus mushrooming across the country alongside the coronavirus pandemic, a shortage of drugs to treat this rare infection has resulted in several deaths. Liposomal Amphotericin B is a lifesaving medication that helps patients overcome this deadly fungal disease. The brains behind the development of this medicine in India, back in 2010-11, is B Srikantha Annappa Pai, head of the research and development team at Bharat Serums and Vaccines Limited in Mumbai.
Pai is a native of Gangolli village in Kundapura Taluk of Karnataka’s Udupi district. He got a degree of Bachelors in Pharma from the Government Pharmacy College in Bengaluru and completed his post-graduation from Manipal. “Job opportunities in Karnataka weren’t great. So I moved to Mumbai and stayed with my sister and started hunting for work. After several interviews, I landed a job with Bharat Serums," he recalled.
Pai served the company for 17 long years. Gilead Sciences, an American company, originally owned the patent to the drug for the treatment of mucormycosis. The patent expired in 2008. “India didn’t have the necessary technology to create an alternative and so lots of research and development was necessary. So it took two long years for the team to finally come up with an efficient product," said Pai. “There was no SoP (standard-operating procedure) for the redevelopment of the medicine. Only the basic formula of the drug is shared (by the company that created it) and they will only tell if the drug is made right or wrong. Hence, we had to do every other research and reach the clinical trial phase. We also had to get permissions from the FDA and European Medical Agency before the trials. After all this, the drug was finally released in 2010-11."
“Mucormycosis majorly targets the lungs, liver and spleen," said Pai. “Amphotericin B is the source of injections that are available everywhere. Four different varieties of injections have been developed from this primary source. The first one is the traditional product. The second is the liposomal amphotericin injection, which is 75% more effective than normal jabs. The third is lipid complex, which is 20 times more effective than the second one. The last one is amphotericin emulsion, which is 150 times safer than regular jabs."
Pai has the patent for lipid complex and amphotericin in his name. He also holds 16 other patents including of protocol drugs used while administering anaesthesia while performing surgeries. He now leads a peaceful post-retirement life with his family in Mumbai.
Source : News18
