NIT Rourkela Secures Patent For Novel Cotarnine Derivative In Oral Cancer Therapy
Rourkela: In a significant stride towards cancer research, researchers at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Berhampur, have developed a novel cotarnine-derived therapeutic formulation with promising applications in oral cancer treatment.
The innovation, granted Patent No. 604125 under the title “Design, Synthesis, and Formulation of a Cotarnine Derivative for Oral Cancer Therapy”, marks a breakthrough in integrating medicinal chemistry with formulation science.
The inventors include Ms Laxmipriya Prusty, Prof Harekrushna Sahoo, Ms Sruti Biswal, and Prof Bibekanand Mallick from NIT Rourkela, alongside Mr Pradyota Kumar Behera and Prof Laxmidhar Rout from IISER Berhampur.
Oral cancer remains a pressing healthcare challenge in India, often diagnosed late and treated with conventional methods that carry limitations. Addressing this gap, the research team designed and synthesised a cotarnine derivative that demonstrated significant anticancer activity, particularly against tongue cancer cells, even at very low concentrations.
Prof. Harekrushna Sahoo emphasised the interdisciplinary nature of the work, stating: “The development of this cotarnine derivative represents an important step toward exploring new molecular entities for oral cancer therapy. Through molecular design, synthesis, and formulation, we have developed a promising candidate for further preclinical and translational research.”
Highlighting the anticancer potential, Prof Bibekanand Mallick added: “Our findings indicate that the developed cotarnine derivative shows significant activity against oral cancer cells. The next step is validation through animal studies and eventual clinical evaluation.”
The patented invention underscores NIT Rourkela’s commitment to research-driven innovation, intellectual property generation, and interdisciplinary collaboration. It also aligns with India’s broader push to strengthen indigenous healthcare research and technology development.