Chennai, July 15: The Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech International Ltd launched the country's first recombinant epidermal growth factor - REGEN-D in Chennai on Friday.

The therapeutic has been developed and manufactured by the company over five years at a cost of Rs 18 crores, Dr Krishna M. Ella, chairman and managing director, Bharat Biotech said here.

The company received the necessary approvals for REGEN-D recently, Dr Ella said, adding, it has licences for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers, burns and skin grafts.

REGEN-D is the result of an unique public-private technology collaboration between Bharat Biotech and the Institute of Genomics and Integrated Biology or IGIB, New Delhi. IGIB is a CSIR institution.

"According to the estimates of the World Health Organisation, diabetes will become one of the world's main disablers and killers within the next 25 years. In India alone, there are 40,000 amputations every year due to diabetic foot ulcers," Dr Ella said. He said that as more than 120,000 deaths occur due to burns every year in India, the management of burn wounds has become a major concern.

Dr Ella said the therapeutic had indicated 90 per cent healing rate during the thrid phase of clinical trials. REGEN-D helps in cell formation, reduces healing time, heals with minimal scars, and is well tolerated by most patients, he said. To a query, he said the company is also looking at applying for licences for REGEN-D in West Asia, Asia and Africa.

REGEN-D is being launched in two strengths - REGEN-D 150 for diabetic foot ulcers and REGEN-D 60 for burns and skin grafts, in 7.5 and 15 grams tubes as a topical gel application.

The therapeutic is expected to contribute around 10 per cent to Bharat Biotech's turnover in 2005-06. The company, which had a turnover of Rs 40 crores in 2004-05, expects to end FY06 with a turnover of Rs 70 crores.