Researchers develop new drug candidate molecules for cancer treatment

Scientists at Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University and Istanbul Medipol University have developed new molecules that serve as potential drug candidates for treating breast, prostate, and lung cancer. The research, titled “Synthesis and Investigation of Biological Activities of New Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors,” involved synthesizing the molecules and testing their anticancer activities through both experimental and theoretical methods.

The study was conducted in two stages: the synthesis of the molecules was completed by Professor Zuhal Gerçek at Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University, while the investigation of their biological activities was carried out by Professor Mustafa Güzel and researcher Betül Yeşil at Istanbul Medipol University. The findings demonstrated that the molecules are effective against the targeted cancer cell types.

The discovery has been protected by two patents: one national patent registered with the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office in 2024, and a European patent application that has been deemed suitable for registration. Professor Gerçek noted that the project represents a step toward domestic pharmaceutical production.