OPEN SOURCE

IN

DRUG  DISCOVERY  

Dr  B..EKBAL  

The way in which intellectual property rights are being applied to research nowadays has created numerous encumbrances to furthering the research boundaries in Medicinal chemistry. This has resulted in making it a necessity to patent new drugs that are manufactured, introduced and distributed in the market. So to overcome these hurdles newer indigenous ways or methods are being designed world over to overcome this lacuna. Presently market capitalization is the driving mechanism which is the new world order in the field of research. Due to this method of research that is prevalent it is nearly impossible for the poorer strata of our society to access these drugs as the multinational companies have cornered a major share in the drug market. This has led to cost escalation of life saving drugs which is a stumbling block to carry out research so as to be able to bring down the cost of these life saving drugs. All this is a fall out of the prevalent patent laws that gives a near monopoly in manufacturing those drugs to the multinational companies. This leads to an inflated subsidy bill for all the governments of developing nations that try to make it possible for the poor people to access these essential drugs for their mere survival. This leads to a road block in the treatment of neglected diseases that are prevalent in developing countries.

It is in this background that newer methods and ways in pharmaceutical research have been conceived by drawing inspiration from Open Source Software movement. This in turn has led to a people’s movement in the field of pharmaceutical research. This has been made possible by replacing the Private Software Copy Right with the General Public License or Copy Left that was introduced by Richard Mathew Stallman of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) computer department. This has made it possible to develop new knowledge and has given the right to make modifications so as to improve it without any hindrances of the prevalent copy right law.

Private Software does not allow you to share your knowledge with others. Also the Source Code is not made available to you and as a result of this you cannot make any modifications to the software.  With the General Public Licence not only is the Source Code made available to you, but you can also share the software with others and make copies of the software. The motto or the tag line of General Public License is to share and collaborate with others.

The fundamental basis has been formulated and laid down in the form of a Creative Commons by a Stanford professor of the department of law by the name Lawrence Lessig. The primary aim of introducing the Creative Commons was to publish the creative works of a person, to acknowledge him appropriately and to enable people having a genuine interest in a relevant area to make use of it in such a way that no profit is generated out of it. Through the Creative Commons the author is given a chance for distributing his work and through this way making it available to the public at large.

Creative Commons is the basis of the frame work of OSDD (Open Source Drug Discovery) that is being followed in many countries world over. Anybody who is interested in Medicinal chemistry research can make contributions in whatever way possible through sharing and collaboration which is the basic underlying principle that OSDD follows piously. The main aim of this consortium is to find newer drug able molecules for diseases that have been neglected by the multinational companies.

In India also OSDD has been started under the aegis of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). The first and foremost area of research of OSDD is to discover newer drug able molecules for Tuberculosis. The major health issue that most of the developing countries are facing is the prevalent character of tuberculosis. But the main issue at hand is the lack of discovery of newer drug able molecules since 1980 by the multinational companies that have a strangle hold over this area of research. Also tuberculosis bacterium has been found to be resistant to the present drugs available in the market.  With the advent of AIDS even developed nations such as USA have seen the tuberculosis disease make a comeback. Studies have proven that an AIDS patient is more susceptible to tuberculosis and if an AIDS patient contracts tuberculosis it is found that the drugs that are available in the market are ineffective in treating such patients. In India every three minutes two people die of tuberculosis. With all this said the multinational companies are least bothered in developing newer drugs to take on the newer resistant forms of the tuberculosis bacteria. It is in this back drop that CSIR through OSDD which is a social and community collaboration with the human community at large to take on this ardours endeavour in discovering newer drugs in the treatment of tuberculosis. Already around 4500 scientists and technocrats are involved in this collaborative research. Everybody who takes part in this collaborative research as well as institutions are either monetarily rewarded or are acknowledged by CSIR.

After the first phase of the research of finding the pharmacophore is finished, the requisite reward is given and in the next stage, CSIR would then collaborate with other institutions to carry out human testing. Once the drug is synthesised, CSIR would apply for the patent. Then the licence required for drug manufacturing would be given by CSIR to firms that are willing to manufacture low cost generic drugs. The point to be noted is that, CSIR would not given the license to only one firm but to a number of firms so as to prevent a particular company from garnering the whole market share.  The generation of knowledge by complying with the patent laws through collaborative research, by which drugs are developed economically in such a way that it would be affordable to the whole of humanity without any income barriers. This is what OSDD has achieved to do in a short span of time by being a model to others.

All these enlightening research activities are a glimmer of hope to the poor tuberculosis patients of not only our country but of the human community at large. Just like Open Source Software in the computer field, the problems of copy right have been overcome in the field of pharmaceutical research. Under the aegis of CSIR this new consortium would make certain tremors felt in the field of medicinal research as well as in the prevalent drug market. The discovery of a new drug for tuberculosis is the foremost task at hand. The policy of OSDD is to make available drugs at an affordable cost to all without any barriers through a collaborative research with the community at large. 

 About  author

Reference


translation  by Mr Andrew Manuel 
OSDD OPEN LAB

Need of Support for Women Scientists to Work from Home

Mamata Mishra

Department of Sociology

School of Social Sciences

University of Hyderabad

E-mail- mamatamis@gmail.com

In India woman is appreciated on the name of Rani Laxmibai and on the other side is always a victim of patriarchy. Let’s speak about woman on this occasion of world TB Day.  Although some locations in this nation still observe child marriage till date, in this same nation we have witnessed many women who have crossed the ordinary boundary of the world. For instance Rani Laxmibai, Mother Teresa, Indira Gandhi, P.T. Usha, Kalpana Chawla, Lata Mangeshkar, Kiran Bedi, Bachendri Pal, Priya Jhingan, Harita Kaur Deol, Karnam Malleswari, Asima Chatterjee and so on. There is probably no area or field where women have not gained excellence.

Science is one of the key elements of an advanced society. Broadly speaking, science and technological advancement is a sign of the growth and development of a nation. The more advanced the science and technology area is, the more advanced a nation is. Coming to the under-graduation and graduation level, women[1] candidates are performing well in science education. In fact, if we look at higher studies, they even do better, but what happens after that stage? How many out of them are really able to proceed further in their career? Do they select career and job according to their qualification? What are the possible reasons behind this? The main reason according to me, is, age factor. By the time they complete their higher studies, they will reach the age of marriage. In many cases, she is forced to get married before she completes her education. Alarm will start ringing each second to get ready for marriage and leave the career at the back door. How many of these women stand firm and go ahead according to their willingness? After giving so much of effort, if her talent could not be utilized properly, then why did she study and come this far? Or can we say the other way like why her parents allowed her to study according to her choice before cutting down her legs? There are two possible answers to this. Firstly, she opted to study science as she wants to be a scientist and work for the society and herself as well. Secondly, parents have allowed her to come so far as they might get a good standard son-in-law. Is not it a matter of shame? If she has opted to take up her educational career so far, then where is her mental strength to fight for her right to progress further? Why should she stop doing science after her marriage? If it is her parent’s decision to give her higher education, then why do they want to shatter her dreams latter? When we look at these factors, one question came to my mind is that should women not get marry then, if they want to continue their research and job etc?

Marriage is not the only factor that puts a stop to women from doing science. There are other factors such as, economic status of the parents. For example, by her utmost effort, she has completed her graduation in science. She tries to get some fellowship, but remains unfortunate in getting one. Once you complete your post graduation, you have a number of fellowship options. Many parents can not even afford till that period as they have to save a huge amount for her marriage. This is one of the reasons why a girl has to stop her education in the middle. What if her talent could still be utilized in a proper way? Another ground is our rigid tradition. In many cases, a woman will have all the resources she needs to pursue her education and career such as financial assistance, no hurry at home for her marriage. Why is she still not able to work as a scientist in our society? The reason is our rigid and conservative tradition does not allow her to go for a job or work outside home.

Analyzing the above factors, one can come to certain possible solutions. Marriage should not be an obstacle for a woman scientist. After marriage her role should not be confined to a wife, a daughter-in-law and a mother. If she is willing to work, do research or job, then her willingness should be respected by her new family members. Her new family should create a familiar environment for her to work. In some cases, they do and in some they do not. Economy in a broader sense and money in a specific sense should not close the door for higher education. Above all, rigid culture should not cut he legs down and stop her from being independent to pursue her dreams. During my recent conversation with one of the scientists, he explained that it is difficult to change the system at once, rather we can create another system, and its success will bring followers. What can be possible solution for our women scientists? Marriage, economic circumstances, and culture- all these are part of all of us; our society. It may take decades to bring in a change. Here comes an alternative to this present discussed issue, that is, make those women scientists work from home itself.

This initiative is an excellent one I came to learn about. This is the concept of working from home itself, especially for women. We are of course, aware of the initiative of working from home for moms in internet. At present there is another initiative meant specifically for women is women scientists’ forum of Open source Drug Discovery (OSDD) Initiative. The main motive of this initiative is to bring together the creative talented women scientists those who are interested to work for the cure of Tuberculosis disease by working in an open space and on a common platform. As I have mentioned earlier, there are many women who can not come out for job or research for many social factors. It specially encourages them to join for this social cause. As a matter of fact, it is not limited to a particular group of women, but welcomes any woman who is voluntarily interested to join this forum and contribute. The functioning of such forums is very important and needs to be supported by the Government, society and nation in a broader sense. Here when I mentioned the word ‘support’, it implies that the ‘strength’. This strength in the sense of support will definitely lead to outstanding contributions to the OSDD initiative in general and women empowerment in particular.

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[1] In this article the category of woman is specific to women scientists only. Although, the presented arguments about education, occupation, economic and other issues are presented by keeping women scientists in view, but broadly the same arguments are applicable to any area such as social sciences, arts, humanities, and so on.

When Purpose is large and Cause is Big, Then People will join you

Summary of Prof. Samir k Brahmachari's Speeches
(Director General, CSIR and Chief Mentor-OSDD)
 

 

WHAT IS OSDD?

• OSDD is a movement, not a only research project, done with passion and full of love.
• An inclusive innovation model
• It Works with students hungry to learn.
• OSDD aims to collaborate with people of the world to make affordable healthcare.

OBJECTIVES OF OSDD:

• To change the entire education system by transforming the education through web by new way of thinking, collective learning and problem solving.
• To not only deliver the drug but to change the attitude of people.
• To make an ideal drug – a drug which cures just after intake.

MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS AS FIRST TARGET:

• India is the biggest affected country of Tuberculosis in the world. So has obligation to discover drug for this disease.

CHALLENGES:

• How the chemical molecule (drug) works?

(Drug is a small molecule which inhibits the function of an unwanted biological function without affecting other biological functions)

Chemistry is nothing but interaction of molecules with complementary charge and shape leading to sometimes a new product. When new product is expressed, we say a chemical reaction has occurred. But when no new product is formed we call it, chemical binding has happened.

The dream drug molecule is the one which exactly go and fit and will leave rest which are not there.

 

• We have to understand the biological system to discover the chemistry of life and make discovery.
  

• How to make new drugs cheaper using new mechanisms and IPR free? (Moral of OSDD)

HISTORY OF CHEMICAL LABORATORY ESTABLISHMENT IN INDIA:

• In 1950’s Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru realized to make chemical laboratory in India, which will actually make public funded drug discovery.
• No one in the world did it before.
• Till 1970 Indian’s were paying more for drug than any other country.
• Mrs Indira Gandhi brought in 1970’s legislation the patent law, which allowed the scenario change, which led to process patent, product patent and new chemistry.

QUESTIONS:

Question 1 –Why, what and how open source drug discovery? 

• In a single room people from different background won’t agree on the same topic as they have different views, so have a cyber space.
• Scientists and researchers need to show different sides of their face to people from different background to make them understand what OSDD is and how they can contribute to it.

Question 2- What is Cheminformatics?

• Cheminformatics is nothing but designing a structure, charge and shape in such a way that increases the specificity and selectivity of its targets, once target is decided.

Question 3– Can we connect our brain and computers to solve the problems in cheminformatics? (Although computers are slower than brain)

• Instead of screening the toxicity of drug (previously), why not to search new non-toxic targets. So we will have new targets, new molecules (drugs) and known molecules for the new targets.

Question 4 – Can we find all the proteins which are unstructured?

Question 5– Why a drug should show 100% inhibition? Why not 90% or less?

Question 6- Can we build function of kidney in computers?

Question 7- Can we build process of absorption in the blood stream in computers?

KEEP IT SIMPLE:

• Life is nothing but chemistry of few elements.
• Nature is the cleverest scientist, with millions of years of experience of evolution, it has evolved perfect machines.
• We try to fool these machines in one way, we are fighting with these machines (Example - Mycobacterium Tuberculosis), but these microbes have perfected them to live in our body.
• Therefore we need thousands of young minds to look at this problem without any bias and solve it from the root.
• Most of the biological molecules are so diverse, that we can’t figure it out. So what we perceive goes in different direction.
• Try to perceive things in your own way. Everyone has got their different perception to a particular subject.
• Learning and doing things in different ways we learn it faster and better.
• Students should think out of canonical and conventional teaching.

NEW HYPOTHESIS:
 

• To target a non-active site, when a drug binds with a non-active site it halt the process at active site.
• To make sure that protein being targeted should be absent in gut flora, mouth flora and absent everywhere.

CROWDSOURCING APPROACH:

• Open science is looking for not only a single noble laureate but a group of noble laureates.
• When purpose is large and cause is big, then people will join you.

EXPECTATIONS FROM OSDD COMMUNITY:

• To make people realize importance of love, sharing, caring and education.
• We need contributors to discover new lead by new way of thinking, learning.
• One day OSDD will make difference in availing drugs at affordable rates.
• If we can make a difference, India will be a different country.

 

DIFFERENT MEANINGS OF OSDD:

• Open source drug discovery
• Open source drug development
• Open source drug delivery
• Open source disease diagnostic

Contributors should concentrate on first definition i.e. – open source drug discovery.