IIT Hyderabad researchers develop oral solution to treat black fungus

An innovation reported two years ago by researchers at IIT-Hyderabad in the formulation of oral tablets used in the treatment of kala-azar or black fever has come to the aid of black fungus patients.

In 2019, researchers from IIT- H's Creative and Advanced Research Based on Nanomaterials (CARBON) lab reported using gelatin nanofibers to manufacture Amphotericin B in a sustained-release tablet form.

No pharmaceutical company in the country has advanced innovation in the last two years by conducting clinical trials, obtaining necessary regulatory approvals, and manufacturing tablets.

Amphotericin B has been a



lifeline for thousands of patients around the world suffering from black fever or fungal infections, including the dreaded black fungus.

“Amphotericin B tablets would be significantly less expensive than injections, costing around Rs 200 per tablet of 60 mg dose,” said Dr Chandra Shekhar Sharma, Associate Professor in the Chemical Engineering department at IIT-Hyderabad.

Dr Sharma further said that the innovation has yet to be patented, allowing it to remain open to the public and used for good.

Manufacturing the drug in tablet form would also make it easier to scale up production to meet the high demand.