Hyderabad, Mar. 28: Bharat Ratna Dr APJ Abdul Kalam today released for clinical evaluation the first indigenous, life-saving clot-dissolving drug for heart patients. The drug, Streptokinase, was given for further investigation to eminent cardiologist Dr B Soma Raju at the Care Hospital.

The drug has been developed by a consortium of defence, hospital and biotechnology firms. At present the drug is being imported at Rs 3,000 approximately per dose. The indigenous drug would cost just Rs 300. The drug has been developed by city-based Bharat Biotech International Ltd (BBIL) in collaboration with the Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, Delhi and Care Foundation, a cardiac research institution here.

Earlier, inaugurating the 4th Annual conference of the Cardiology Society of India (AP Chapter), Prof. Kalam called for better interaction between defence labs, hospitals and industry for the benefit of patients. He cited the example of a gas mixture for high altitude pulmonary oedama developed for Indian soldiers and the same could be used for adult respiratory distress syndrome.

Earlier, Dr P Krishnam Raju, president of the Cardiology Society of India, said the conference would focus on geriatric medicine in cardiology. Prominent cardiac surgeons, including Dr Prasad Rao, Rajagopal Raju and former president of CSI, Dr B K Naik, participated.