BIRAC To Invest In OncoSeek Bio For Facilitating Covid-19 Cure

Hyderabad-based biotech startup OncoSeek Bio has been selected for funding from the state-run Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) for developing a potential cure for the Covid-19 virus.

Incubated at the University of Hyderabad (UoH), OncoSeek Bio will develop an in vitro lung organoids. These organoids are simply a 3D tissue-engineered mini lung which has the capacity to replicate the aspects of lung tissues. Organoids can help researchers to find drugs for better treatment of Covid-19. Founder and CEO of OncoSeek Bio Suresh Poosala said that the current animal models available for research on Covid-19 are difficult to get into India. He also stressed that due to low availability, it is important to make organoids locally. “The company envisages creating a novel in vitro platforms for Covid-19 research under the support,” Poosala was quoted as saying by Livemint. As part of the grant proposal, OncoSeek Bio will also work on its novel platform for the facilitation of screening of drugs which are usually peptides, molecules, agents or compounds that are effective against the virus.