CHENNAI: A 47-year-old pharmacist who allegedly consumed a drug he had invented to cure cold died at Teynampet on Thursday night.

As the incident happened at a doctor's house, the police are investigating if the doctor was also involved in preparing the drug along with the pharmacist.

Police said Sivanesan, a native of Perungudi had worked in a private biotech lab as a Production Manager in Uttarakhand and later moved to Chennai. He worked for the same firm which is situated at Boopathy Nagar, Kodambakkam and holds a degree in pharmacy.

"For the last couple of months he was busy trying to invent a drug to cure cold and on Thursday evening he had brought the drug to one Dr Rajkumar's house in Teynampet," said a police officer.

A senior officer said, Dr Rajkumar, however, consumed only a small portion of the drug while Sivanesan consumed more and fell unconscious.

He was immediately rushed to the hospital where he was declared brought dead.

The Teynampet police have registered a case and further investigations are on. Police suspect him to have consumed sodium nitrate.

"Only after the post mortem we will know the exact cause of death and what he consumed," said the officer.