OREANDA-NEWS. January 31, 2012. Estonian researchers have developed a new technology that allows for faster and cheaper production of amrubicin, a key ingredient of lung cancer medications.

The Tartu-based company TBD-Biodiscovery has 25 employees and was founded in 2006. Three years and 800,000 euros later company representatives say they have created an attractive alternative for producing the drug, reported ETV.

The new method entails biological not chemical production of amrubicin. "The old method, which was invented by the Japanese, is a classical synthesis, with 16 to 17 stages. It is complicated, expensive, and creates toxic byproducts. Our method is much shorter, simpler, somewhat cheaper and hopefully makes the product more accessible for the patient," said Olga Tshubrik, the company's director of development.