Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Aug 25: The Ministry of Science and Technology has announced the development of a new smart drug, RK-251, which could potentially offer an alternative to conventional chemotherapy by selectively targeting cancerous cells while minimising damage to healthy cells.

The drug has been developed through collaborative efforts by researchers at the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST) and experts from IIT Guwahati.

According to the ministry, preclinical studies showed that RK-251 demonstrated strong activity against aggressive triple-negative breast cancer cells while having significantly less impact on healthy cells.

The findings highlight the potential of targeted cancer treatment, which aims to attack tumour cells more selectively and reduce the harmful effects associated with conventional chemotherapy.

The Ministry of Science and Technology appreciated the joint efforts of the IASST researchers and IIT Guwahati experts in translating the concept into a potential therapeutic approach.

However, as RK-251 is currently supported by preclinical findings, further research and clinical trials will be required to establish its safety, effectiveness and suitability for use in cancer patients.