AVP signs MoU with CCRAS for multi centric clinical trial on

rheumatoid arthritis Coimbatore, Mar 3 () Arya Vaidya Pharmacy here hassigned an MoU with Central Council for Research In AryurvedaSystem (CCRAS) to conduct Phase III Multi centric clinicaltrial on rheumatoid arthritis in Bengaluru and Mumbai.

The union government has come forward to fund the firstever such trial on the efficacy of Ayurveda in managingrheumatoid arthritis and the study would be done by AVPResearch Foundation in collaboration with CCRAS, FoundationChairman P R Krishnakumar told reporters on Tuesday.

The study was based on a pilot study by AVP in 2003, theoutcome of which was published in leading research journalslike Annals of Rheumatic Diseases and Journal of ClinicalRheumatology, he said.

The Centre has come forward to take this study to thenext level as part of positioning Ayurveda as a forefrontmedical system capable of handling various conditions,including auto-immune disorders, he said.

The agreement to pursue the study was signed betweenKrishnakumar and Dr Shashidhar Doddamani, representing CCRAShere recently, he said.

Ayurveda Research Institute for Metabolic Disorders,Bengaluru and Raja Ramdeo Anandilala Central Ayurveda ResearchInstitute for Cancer, Mumbai, will be the clinical sites forthe 36 week study on 200 people with fresh cases of thedisease, he said. Krishnakumar said the study was designed by world renownedrheumotologist Dr Daniel Furst, currently the Director ofClinical Research at Arthiritis Associtaion of SouthCalifornia, who would also mentor it.

The AVP Group has also initiated a clinical trial on theefficacy of Ayurveda on management of diabetes, he said.

The study will be executed in Lativa in collaborationwith the University of Lativa and be the first of its kind,where efficacy of Ayurveda in the management of Diabetespopulation outside India, Krishnakumar said. NVM APRAPR APR