GVK Bio has entered into a research agreement with Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a division of Wyeth, to undertake drug discovery research and generate intellectual property (IP). Based on the research output, the company would file INDs (Investigative New Drug) with the US Food & Drug Administration. The work would be largely on drug candidates focused on pre-defined discovery targets. GVK Bio, the Hyderabad-based company, will utilise in-house capabilities in discovery chemistry, informatics, biology and toxicology to advance this collaborative programme expected to be between 2-3 years. It will be responsible for identifying drug candidates, which will be transferred to Wyeth to take them towards clinical studies. Under the agreement, GVK Bio will receive initial payments as well as success-based milestone payments based on the research progressed. The IP generated would belong to Wyeth, said Mr Manni Kantipudi, President of the company. Dedicated facility He said a totally dedicated research facility with about 150 chemists has been set up for Wyeth under an existing understanding. A major portion of the work would be done here, in addition to the facilities of the company, he told Business Line. An SBU (Strategic Business Unit), specially created by the company, forges collaborations with leading life-sciences companies to advance research. Currently, the company has more than 1,300 employees spread across facilities in Hyderabad, Chennai and Gurgaon. The company has also tied up recently with Dow Agro, an Indianapolis, US-based, agrochemical company in the area of outsourced research. "We are also getting several enquiries of interest for collaborative and outsourced projects,' he said. Mr G.V. Sanjay Reddy, Managing Director, GVK Biosciences, said in a press release: "The company has had a successful partnership with Wyeth on various chemistry research activities dating to 2006. This research agreement expands our work together.'