A new anticonvulsant drug and its use in the treatment of a variety of disorders has been patented in the USA. The team of researchers includes Dr Iqbal Choudhry, Dr Farzana Shaheen, Dr Arun Ganesan, Dr Shabana Usman Simjee and Dr A Mohsin Raza from the International Centre of Chemical and Biological Sciences at the University of Karachi, and Dr Atta-ur-Rahman, Chairman of the Higher Education Commission.
The invention is based on investigations on a plant, Delphinium, which has been traditionally used as anticonvulsant but without recognising the source of its activity or structure of the active principle.
The compound possesses potent anticonvulsant activity and is, therefore, potentially useful in the treatment or prevention of anxiety, mania, depression, panic disorders, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, migraine, sleep disorders, neuralgia, etc.
In an effort to encourage the scientists to patent their findings, the Higher Education Commission has developed a programme to encourage innovation. Under this programme, researchers can submit research ideas, published papers, thesis synopsis for evaluation for patentability.
The submission remains completely confidential. The purpose of this evaluation is to determine patentability. In case an invention is determined to be patentable, the inventor is encouraged to file for an international patent.
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