Organic Chemist Soumya Sagar from Balasore Secures First Patent for Novel HIV Cure Research
Balasore , 24/10(Krushna Kumar Mohanty) Organic chemist Soumya Sagar belongs to Balasore district of Odisha has announced the first patent of his research career, titled “Disulfide-based Lipid Nanoparticles and Methods of Use Thereof” (Docket No.-25035P). The innovative research focuses on using disulfide-based lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulations for the potential cure of HIV-1 through efficient excision of proviral DNA.
According to Sagar, while other long-acting treatments such as ART, bNAbs, and CAR-T cell therapy have received significant attention, LNPs have been less explored in the context of HIV. This study not only addresses the endosomal escape bottleneck of LNPs but also demonstrates effective excision of proviral DNA in immune cells compared to commercially available ionizable lipids, marking a first in the field of HIV research.
Currently, the research is being extended in mice models, with the potential for future clinical applications.
Sagar expressed gratitude to his supervisor Howard Gendelman and team members Sudipta Panja, Bharat Chaudhary, and Mohammad Uzair Ali for their contributions to the research, highlighting the collaborative effort behind this breakthrough.
“This patent represents a promising step toward a potential cure for HIV. I welcome discussions with the wider scientific community to further advance this work,” Sagar stated.
This milestone underscores the growing role of nanotechnology in medical research and its potential in combating complex viral infections like HIV.
