Sunil Mohan Patnaik Brahmapur

Researchersfrom the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Berhampur and NIT, Rourkela have received an Indian patent for a newly developed compound that could be used in the future to make medicines for oral cancer. The research team, led by Prof Laxmidhar Rout of IISER, Berhampur and Prof Harekrushna Sahoo of NIT, Rourkela, developed the new compound, named S-27, with the aim of exploring its use in treating oral cancer. The researchers said their work is particularly focused on oral squamous cell carcinoma, a common type of oral cancer. The new compound has shown promise as a possible candidate for further research into oral cancer treatment. The patent, titled “Design, Synthesis, and Formulation of a Cotarnine Derivative for Oral Cancer Therapy,” was filed by L Prusty, H K Sahoo, P Behera, L Rout, S Biswal and B Mallick. The patent application was filed on November 19, 2025, and the patent was granted on September 25, 2026. The researchers said the new work could eventually help in developing a more affordable medicine for oral cancer. However, they stressed that much more testing is needed before the compound can be used as a medicine for patients.