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The 'Kani' people were kept informed of the progress of this interesting
results and assured them again that if any marketable products
were developed out of this plant, derived from the products would
be shared equally with them. The author very soon realized that
the classical pharmacological approach to study the traditional
remedies of medicinal plants by isolating single compounds may
not be satisfactory and an ethno-pharmacological approach was
adopted to evaluate this plant. By this time the author got the
offer of the Directorship of Tropical Botanic Garden & Research
Institute (TBGRI), Trivandrum and he accepted the same and joined
there in November, 1999. At TBGRI, the author soon established
a full-fledged Ethno-pharmacology Division and recruited scientists
from disciplines of Botany, Pharmacology , Phytochemistry, Biochemistry,
Pharmacy and Ayurveda. Within a period of two years a scientifically
validated, standardized herbal formulation 'Jeevani' was formulated
with 'Trichopus zeylanicus' and three other medicinal plants as
its ingredients. Evaluations related to toxicity efficacy, shelf
life and clinical properties were carried out by TBGRI, and the
drug was ready by the end of 1994.
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Many
pharmaceutical companies approached TBGRI for availing the technology
for commercial manufacture of 'Jeevani'. But, before transferring
the technology Pushpangadan wanted to ensure by a legal mechanism
for sharing the benefits with the 'Kani' tribe and thus to honour
the word of promise he gave them while getting the lead from them.
It was, however, a very difficult task. He had to undergo very
difficult situation to get it approved by the competent authority
of TBGRI. Being the Director of TBGRI , Pushpangadan is also the
Secretary to Executive Committee and Governing Body of TBGRI.
He thus prepared an Agenda item and presented a proposal for sharing
the benefits (on 1:1 basis) deriving from the technology transfer
(licence fee and royalty) with the Kani tribe. He gave a self
explanatory account about the whole story of the development of
the 'Jeevani' and also told about the assurance given to the Kanis
by him. He has also pointed out the Article 8(j) of the UN-CBD
and argued that we are legally bind to agree for such a benefit
sharing as CBD has been ratified by Govt. of India in February,
1994. After much discussion, the EC finally approved the proposal
and told to get it ratified by the Governing Body. Subsequently,
it was ratified by the Governing Body. It was a landmark decision
of an R&D Institution in India, perhaps in the whole world.
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In
1996, the technology for commercial manufacture of 'Jeevani' was
finally transferred to Arya Vaidya Pharmacy (AVP), Coimbatore
for a period of seven years against a licence fee of Rs. 10,00,000
(US $ 25000 approx.), and for a royalty of 2.5% on ex-factory
sale of the product. The prime concern of the tribals in the beginning
was to evolve a viable mechanism for receiving such funds.
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