About Us
Preclinical CRO In India
Vipragen, a renowned Contract Research Organization (CRO), offers comprehensive services for global Pharmaceutical, Biopharmaceutical, Chemical, Nutraceutical and Medical Device companies. With over 12 years of experience, Vipragen Biosciences Private Limited is dedicated to delivering quality services.
Under the leadership of Dr. Chandrashekaran Siddamadappa, Chairman and Managing Director, Vipragen has emerged as an Integrated Pre-clinical CRO, championing sustainability, integrity, safety and quality. Our state-of-the-art Vivarium holds Global certifications like OECD GLP, AAALAC and NABL, supported by multidisciplinary experts and equipped with 21CFR Part 11 compliance systems and processes. We ensure reliable data adhering to global standards with a focus on customer satisfaction. Our diverse portfolio includes Analytical, Toxicology and Chemistry services tailored to meet stringent regulatory submission requirements across the industries, ensuring compliance and transparency for clients across the industry spectrum.
Under the leadership of Dr. Chandrashekaran Siddamadappa, Chairman and Managing Director, Vipragen has emerged as an Integrated Pre-clinical CRO, championing sustainability, integrity, safety and quality. Our state-of-the-art Vivarium holds Global certifications like OECD GLP, AAALAC and NABL, supported by multidisciplinary experts and equipped with 21CFR Part 11 compliance systems and processes. We ensure reliable data adhering to global standards with a focus on customer satisfaction. Our diverse portfolio includes Analytical, Toxicology and Chemistry services tailored to meet stringent regulatory submission requirements across the industries, ensuring compliance and transparency for clients across the industry spectrum.
Leadership
Dr. S Chandrashekaran
Chairman and Managing DirectorMr. Yashas Chandra
Executive DirectorDr. Chaitra Harsha
Joint Managing DirectorDr. V. V. Vaidyanathan
Head Discovery ServicesDr. Pradeep Takawale
Head – Preclinical Services and TFMMr. Ashok Malavali
Vice President Business Development –North America
Mr. Ramakrishna Dasoju
AVP Business DevelopmentMr. Ravi Kumar C
Deputy Test Facility ManagementDr. Srinivas Reddy Boreddy
Associate Director & Head-Discovery SciencesDr. S Chandrashekaran
Chairman and Managing Director
Dr. Chandra is the Founding Chairman and Managing Director of Vipragen Biosciences Pvt Ltd., a Pre-clinical drug discovery company situated in Mysore. Chandra has a formidable years of hands-on-experience in successfully running and managing Biotech start-up companies.
He has more than 30 years of experience in the areas of recombinant technologies, Biochemistry, in vitro Biology, Drug Discovery and Biopharma. He founded Enzene Biosciences Ltd., a Biopharma R&D company and was instrumental in setting up Biologics (including Peptides, rDNA drugs and monoclonal antibody) platform and took a couple of Biosimilars to clinical studies, and several to Pre-clinical stage successfully. An aggressive value creator and 30X serial entrepreneur who is currently front-ending Vipragen.
Mr. Yashas Chandra
Director of Operations and Deputy TFM
Dr. Chaitra Harsha
Joint Managing Director
Dr. Chaitra is a Medical Graduate (MBBS) and PhD from Indian Institute of science, Bengaluru. She holds MPWE (Management Program for Women Entrepreneurs) from NSRCL for Entrepreneurship, IIM, Bengaluru. She is a serial entrepreneur, with two successfully executed ventures in healthcare and education. Her contribution in the healthcare space is vast and currently she is a Joint Managing Director of Vipragen team.
With excellent academic credentials and a proficient management skill set through centers of excellence of global reputation, Dr Chaitra Harsha has emerged as a thought leader in the areas of Healthcare and Biotechnology.
Dr. V. V. Vaidyanathan
Head Discovery Services
An alumnus of IISc, Bangalore, Dr. Vaidyanathan has over 28 years of experience in academic research (MHH Hannover, Germany; NCI, Bethesda, USA), pharma industry (Astra India) & CRO (Aurigene & Syngene International). He has participated in many small molecule discovery programs such as Infectious Diseases (TB), Apoptosis (Caspase-3), Oncology (PARP inhibitors, ADC), Inflammation (Sepsis) and Metabolic disorders (Diabetes/Obesity) thus gaining in-depth experience in key aspects of discovery research such as screening, DMPK and Pharmacology models. His vast experience in biological research enables Vipragen to provide customized solutions to clients to accelerate discovery programs.
He is a recipient of the prestigious Alexander Humboldt Fellowship and is a Fogerty International Fellow at NIH, Bethesda, USA.
Dr. Pradeep Takawale
Head – Preclinical Services and TFM
Dr. Pradeep Takawale, a veterinarian by education, holds a master’s degree in veterinary pharmacology and toxicology from Chandra Shekhar Azad university Kanpur, India. He has more than 20 years of experience in the field of general toxicology, reproductive and developmental toxicology (DART), juvenile toxicology and pharmacokinetics. He has authored 175+ regulatory toxicity study reports of various study types as per the relevant international guidelines for regulatory submissions.
In the last 20 years, he has served various organizations like JRF global India, CiToxLAB Scantox Denmark, Zydus Cadila India, Ranbaxy India and Eurofins BSL Bio service Munich Germany and contributed to the progress of these organizations.
Mr. Ramakrishna Dasoju
AVP Business Development
Ramakrishna Dasoju, known as Ram, has forged a dynamic and successful career, leveraging his diverse experiences in preclinical research, project management, and business development. His impressive educational background includes a postgraduate degree in Biotechnology, an MBA, and a prestigious Business Excellence Programme from IIM Kozhikode, all of which have equipped him with the expertise to excel in his field.
Ramakrishna embarked on his professional journey as a preclinical research scientist at NIN, ICMR, Hyderabad, and has since made significant contributions to various organizations. His roles at Virchow Biotech and NATCO Pharma involved overseeing animal facilities, conducting toxicology studies, and submitting reports to regulatory authorities. During his tenure at Vimta Labs, he played a pivotal role in achieving AAALAC and GLP certification for the preclinical department while serving as a member-secretary-IAEC.
Joining Dabur Research Foundation in 2011, Ramakrishna dedicated over a decade to the organization, excelling in project management and business development for discovery preclinical services. With a global perspective, he successfully managed mid-term and long-term projects across the US, Europe, and the Middle East. Venturing into AI/ML data analytics-based solutions at Excelra, Ramakrishna managed projects, pre-sales, and business development, showcasing versatility in navigating cutting-edge technologies.
In his current capacity as the Head of Global Business Development at Vipragen, Ram is instrumental in steering the company towards new horizons. Focused on expanding business both domestically and internationally, his strategic approach aims to foster long-term collaborations in the Pharma, Biopharma, and Nutraceutical sectors. Ramakrishna is leading the charge in repositioning Vipragen, leveraging advanced strategies and utilizing technology to drive the company from innovation to transformation. His goal is to make a substantial impact on the entire CRO value chain across sectors, elevating Vipragen to new heights.
Mr. Saravanan Muthaiah
AVP Techno commercial Sales
Saravanan is Post Graduate (M.Sc Biochemistry) from Bharathidasan University, PG Diploma in Bioinformatics and possessing 21 years total experience in academic as well regulatory toxicology. He has vast experience in designing toxicology studies for GRAS, REACh, EFSA, IND, ECHA, NDA, ANDA, RCGM, DCGI submission. He also has vast experience of handling AAALAC, NGCMA, DTL, NABL and Sponsor audits. Presently he is the Deputy Test Facility Management possessing Techno-commercial outlook as technical engagements with International clients and the relevant regulatory requirements. With serving over many years in Vipragen Saravanan has been key in establishing the in-silico platform at Vipragen.
Mr. Ashok Malavali
Vice President Business Development – North America
Ashok Malavalli, serving as the Vice President of Business Development, North America, brings a wealth of experience to the role. With a career spanning over three decades in academia and the pharmaceutical industry, he boasts more than 20 years of leadership in pharmaceutical R&D and CMC operations. Also, he possesses extensive expertise in ICH & cGMP.
Ashok is the founder and president of Spectra Bio Labs, a pharmaceutical research organization based in San Diego, CA, USA, he is well-positioned to spearhead Vipragen’s business development strategies and partnerships in North America.
Mr. Ravi Kumar. C
Deputy Test Facility Management
Mr. Ravi Kumar brings with him a wealth of experience and expertise in the field of technical operations, garnered from the industry.
With a distinguished career as a toxicologist, he brings over 20+ years of extensive experience in the pre-clinical industry. His expertise spans various aspects of toxicological research making him a valuable asset in the field.
With his extensive background and proven track record of success, he plays a vital role in driving technical operations to new heights. His leadership and strategic vision are instrumental in optimizing our technical infrastructure, enhancing operational efficiency, and ensuring the seamless delivery of our services.
Dr. Srinivas Reddy Boreddy
Associate Director & Head-Discovery Sciences
Dr. Boreddy – an immune-oncology expert, with over 12 years of experience in drug development, specializing in biologics and small molecules.
In his previous roles at The Jackson Laboratory (USA), Biocon Ltd., TATA Consultancy Services, and Piramal Life Sciences, he has led discovery programs and generated pivotal IND application data. His expertise in in vitro and in vivo techniques, coupled with exceptional people and client management skills, makes him a valuable addition to our team.
Collaborations
Vipragen biosciences and global product compliance (gpc) forging alliance for integrated pre-clinical and regulatory solutions
Vipragen and GPC proudly announce a strategic partnership offering end-to-end research and regulatory solutions across diverse sectors in the European market. Leveraging Vipragen's drug discovery and preclinical CRO capabilities alongside GPC's regulatory study management expertise, this collaboration provides a comprehensive solution for product development to registration. Our core objective is to combine capabilities, attract a broader client base, and position ourselves as a leading CRO provider in Europe, catering to evolving global requirements. This partnership signifies an evolution in our capabilities, delivering integrated solutions on a global scale and advancing industry standards. We are excited about the possibilities this collaboration brings and look forward to shaping the future together, demonstrating our commitment to advancement. Stay tuned for updates as we embark on this journey, sharing the benefits with our valued clients and partners.
Vipragen biosciences and global product compliance (gpc) forging alliance for integrated pre-clinical and regulatory solutions
Vipragen and GPC proudly announce a strategic partnership offering end-to-end research and regulatory solutions across diverse sectors in the European market. Leveraging Vipragen's drug discovery and preclinical CRO capabilities alongside GPC's regulatory study management expertise, this collaboration provides a comprehensive solution for product development to registration. Our core objective is to combine capabilities, attract a broader client base, and position ourselves as a leading CRO provider in Europe, catering to evolving global requirements. This partnership signifies an evolution in our capabilities, delivering integrated solutions on a global scale and advancing industry standards. We are excited about the possibilities this collaboration brings and look forward to shaping the future together, demonstrating our commitment to advancement. Stay tuned for updates as we embark on this journey, sharing the benefits with our valued clients and partners.
Vipragen Biosciences Pvt Ltd and Mestastop® Solutions have signed an MoU to advance the discovery and development of effective anti-metastatic therapies. With metastasis being a leading cause of cancer-related death, this partnership aims to redefine the preclinical and clinical development paradigm by validating potential preclinical targets using appropriate models. Together, they strive to provide comprehensive solutions for successful development of anti-metastatic therapies, addressing the critical need in oncology drug development.
Vipragen Biosciences Pvt Ltd and Mestastop® Solutions have signed an MoU to advance the discovery and development of effective anti-metastatic therapies. With metastasis being a leading cause of cancer-related death, this partnership aims to redefine the preclinical and clinical development paradigm by validating potential preclinical targets using appropriate models. Together, they strive to provide comprehensive solutions for successful development of anti-metastatic therapies, addressing the critical need in oncology drug development.
Vipragen aims to partner with any Bio-innovators to co-develop molecules through unique technology platforms. Our collaborators can benefit from the advanced Artificial intelligence co-developers for smarter and faster drug discovery programs. Vipragen is also focused on Nextgen alternate to animal testing as a part of the cell-based safety pharmacology assays, that are being validated at a fast pace. Vipragen welcomes start-ups and sponsor collaborators to make the most of such platforms and constantly add value to research by effective delivery.
Vipragen Collaborates with JSS Medical College
Vipragen signs an MOU with the JSS group of Hospital Mysore which is a part of JSS Medical College for a strategic collaboration for looking at holistic approach to healthcare. Through the collaboration the two groups are poised to take on pressing challenge pertaining to gap between Preclinical Drug testing to clinical In-patient approach. In the vision to perform an end to end Drug Development possibility and provide the collaborative partner with a comprehensive solution from Lab to Market. It is an absolute honour to integrate with the prestigious premiere institute such as JSS to make the clinical testing more versatile, with integrated project and data management. With this collaboration, Vipragen is poised to address the growing need to make drug discovery and development affordable.
Vipragen Collaborates with JSS Medical College
Vipragen signs an MOU with the JSS group of Hospital Mysore which is a part of JSS Medical College for a strategic collaboration for looking at holistic approach to healthcare. Through the collaboration the two groups are poised to take on pressing challenge pertaining to gap between Preclinical Drug testing to clinical In-patient approach. In the vision to perform an end to end Drug Development possibility and provide the collaborative partner with a comprehensive solution from Lab to Market. It is an absolute honour to integrate with the prestigious premiere institute such as JSS to make the clinical testing more versatile, with integrated project and data management. With this collaboration, Vipragen is poised to address the growing need to make drug discovery and development affordable.
JNC Collaboration
Vipragen Biosciences has partnered with the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) in Bengaluru to help to identify the drug candidates that could potentially cure neurodegenerative diseases (ND) such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. The research theorizes that the main cause of neurodegenerative diseases is an accumulation of toxic protein clumps inside neurons in aged individuals. However, these aggregates could be cleared using small molecules that accelerate an intracellular recycling mechanism called autophagy.
"We can use the proprietary platform to identify the new drug candidates for neurodegeneration" says Dr Chaitra Harsha, Joint MD, Vipragen Biosciences. The firm will carry forward testing of potential drugcandidates which showed promise in preclinical animal trials as part of a public-private partnership.
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JNC Collaboration
Vipragen Biosciences has partnered with the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) in Bengaluru to help to identify the drug candidates that could potentially cure neurodegenerative diseases (ND) such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. The research theorizes that the main cause of neurodegenerative diseases is an accumulation of toxic protein clumps inside neurons in aged individuals. However, these aggregates could be cleared using small molecules that accelerate an intracellular recycling mechanism called autophagy.
“We can use the proprietary platform to identify the new drug candidates for neurodegeneration” says Dr Chaitra Harsha, Joint MD, Vipragen Biosciences. The firm will carry forward testing of potential drugcandidates which showed promise in preclinical animal trials as part of a public-private partnership.
Read More
Vipragen and Transcell Collaboration
Vipragen in partnership with Transcell to offer an alternative Non-Human testing platforms for wide range of application. This collaboration allows the industry partners in the Pharma, Biopharma, Agrochemical and herbal space to enable a new platform discovery offerings which is integrated as a part of exploratory regime. Vipragen believes firmly in the 3Rs Approach – Reduction, Replacement and Refinement as a significant step to animal welfare principals, Transcell partnership will enable an alternative testing platforms which results in lower testing costs and time.
Vipragen now addresses the growing need for innovative alternative to Invivo Toxicity testing, as this partnership facilitates in human sourced primary, progenitor cell based platforms, the read outs would be a 100% physiologically relevant to human/patient conditions supporting industries across spectrum.
Vipragen and Transcell Collaboration
Vipragen in partnership with Transcell to offer an alternative Non-Human testing platforms for wide range of application. This collaboration allows the industry partners in the Pharma, Biopharma, Agrochemical and herbal space to enable a new platform discovery offerings which is integrated as a part of exploratory regime. Vipragen believes firmly in the 3Rs Approach – Reduction, Replacement and Refinement as a significant step to animal welfare principals, Transcell partnership will enable an alternative testing platforms which results in lower testing costs and time.
Vipragen now addresses the growing need for innovative alternative to Invivo Toxicity testing, as this partnership facilitates in human sourced primary, progenitor cell based platforms, the read outs would be a 100% physiologically relevant to human/patient conditions supporting industries across spectrum.
Know more in under Discovery Services.
Vipragen has performed Integrated Drug Discovery projects funded by BIRAC in collaboration with other partner organizations supported by BIRAC (DST, India government schemes) in exploring drug candidates to be implicated as therapeutics against oncology and autoimmune disorders. Vipragen has presented collaborative work in global symposiums.
Vipragen has performed Integrated Drug Discovery projects funded by BIRAC in collaboration with other partner organizations supported by BIRAC (DST, India government schemes) in exploring drug candidates to be implicated as therapeutics against oncology and autoimmune disorders. Vipragen has presented collaborative work in global symposiums.
Accolades
Vipragen is the Winner of Elevate 100
As a part of ELEVATE Program in 2017 and identified as one of the most innovative firms in the state, an initiative of the Department of Information Technology and Biotechnology, the Government of Karnataka aims to provide a comprehensive entrepreneurship platform for startups. The event was envisioned to provide startups with the necessary boost at various stages through funding or mentoring as key enablers. As a result of this Vipragen has completed the project aimed at using in vitro scaffold 3D culture cell models that can be used as alternatives for animal testing.
More info here: https://www.missionstartupkarnataka.org/?en