2 NMIMS SPPSPTM faculty granted patents for research work in pharmacy, technology management

NEW DELHI: Two of NMIMS Shohbaben Pratapbhai Patel School of Pharmacy and Technology Management (SPPSPTM) faculty have been granted with Indian patents for their research work.

PG, PhD and MPharm programme chairperson, Vaishali Londhe received patent number 411078 for her work titled 'microneedles fabrication with enhanced drug loading and delivery systems’, and associate professor, Sarika Wairkar has been granted the patent number 408059 for her research work in 'topical foam composition comprising mupirocin.'

Londhe's patent is an outcome of the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) research grant that discusses preparation of hydrophilic microneedles increased incorporation of Iloperidone, an antipsychotic drug. Her preclinical studies showed that microneedle delivery of a drug increased its concentration and duration in the blood and the brain. This makes the invention a breakthrough in treating schizophrenia as opposed to current oral administrations that showed slower therapeutic results.

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The research requires further clinical studies performed as the new formulation can prove to be a good alternative to current existing methods. “Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental illness that impacts the life quality of patients. The treatment is heavily reliant on drug and psychosocial support therapies. The new invention of iloperidone microneedles is set to bring new hope to patients suffering from the illness,” said Vaishali Londhe.

In regards to Wairkar's invention relating to foam formulation of Mupirocin, a commonly used topical antibiotic in traumatic skin lesions and burn wounds. Currently, mupirocin is commercially available as a cream formulation which needs to be applied by touching the skin or wound surface.

In this research Wairkarprepared a mupirocin foam fir tropical application that has quick collapse time, good spreadability and superior antibacterial efficacy that leads to easier application without touching a wound. After conducting clinical trials, she established that this advanced formulation can be used as an alternative to the conventional topical dosage form.

“This formulation was designed considering severe pain and infection of critical wounds, specially burn wounds where application of medicine is a difficult task and therefore, this formulation may substantially help in management of chronic wounds,” said Sarika Wairkar.

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Commending Vaishali Londhe and Sarika Wairkar on being awarded the patents, SPPSTM, dean, Bala Prabhakar spoke about the school’s continued thrust on ground-breaking research. “We have always encouraged our faculty to undertake research that will make an impact on the pharma industry and the overall healthcare system of our country. These inventions by Dr Vaishali Londhe and Dr Sarika Wairkar will go a long way in simplifying treatment of schizophrenia and burn wound care. I wish them all the best and hope for more such innovative research work from the NMIMS School of Pharmacy. SPPSPTM has always focused on innovation and with these latest achievements, we are motivated to take our mission to impact global healthcare even further.”

Disclaimer: This content was distributed by NMIMS Shohbaben Pratapbhai Patel School of Pharmacy and Technology Management (SPPSPTM) and has been published as part of Careers360’s marketing initiative.