Cadila gets nod for anti-cholesterol formula

Cadila Healthcare on Friday said it had received permission to conduct clinical trials on its new molecular entity - ZYH1 - a formula to check cholesterol in blood. The drug controller general of India gave its approval to conduct phase I clinical trials to evaluate the safety profile of ZYH1, the company informed the Bombay Stock Exchange.

The clinical trials will be conducted at Zydus Research Centre, which is equipped to conduct the initial trial.

Extensive pre-clinical studies on ZYHl indicated that it might be free from the side effects that are seen with the glitazones, fibrates and statins, which are currently used in the treatment of dislipidemia and glucose intolerance.

The formula has the potential to correct dyslipidemia, improve insulin resistance and lower blood glucose in diabetic mellitus and metabolic syndrome, it said.

"ZYH1 is expected to address the issue related to patients suffering from dyslipidemia in both diabetic and non-diabetic ondition", said B B Lohray, president, Zydus Research Centre.