An indigenous drug, jointly developed by IIT-Madras (IIT-M) and the Madras Institute of Nephrology, which can remove toxic phosphorous from the blood of a patient with chronic kidney failure, has been granted a process patent.

According to Nephrologists, the drug is "efficient, delays dialysis when given early to kidney failure patients and increases longevity with better quality of life in patients who are on dialysis".

Dr. Rajan Ravichandran, Director of MIOT Institute of Technology, who also put forth the proposal to the IIT initially, says, "The polymer-based organic phosphate binders were first introduced in the US market nearly 10 years ago. However, because of high cost and difficulty in availability, patients with kidney failure in India could not access it".

S. Sankararaman, Professor at the Department of Chemistry, who designed the new methodology, said, "The initial task was to understand the basis of the molecular framework. Once that was accomplished, the molecule had to be synthesized and, finally, technology transfer was done for commercial production".

IIT-M director MS Ananth told reporters on Wednesday, "It was a project between doctors and engineers initiated under the socially relevant projects initiative of IIT-M. It was started in 2003 with the vision of being in a dynamic equilibrium with our social environment".

"In a country where the doctor-patient ratio is small and doctors have very little time for research, it is vital for institutions like ours to collaborate", he added.