Yeditepe University researchers receive Gold Medal for antiviral discovery

Researchers at Yeditepe University have been awarded the Gold Medal by the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (TÜRKPATENT) for the development of a new antiviral compound. The invention, titled ‘New Morpholine Schiff Base and Its Use in Diseases Caused by Viral Pathogens’, demonstrated a 99.99% antiviral efficacy rate against four different virus models in laboratory studies.

The compound was tested against adenovirus, herpes simplex virus, poliovirus, and bovine coronavirus. Due to its high effectiveness across these diverse biological models, the discovery is considered a promising candidate for the development of broad-spectrum antiviral products.

The research team includes Prof. Dr. Fikrettin Şahin, Dr. Sevda Demir, and Research Assistant Bekir Can Altındişoğulları, building upon initial work by Prof. Dr. Pınar Şen. The exclusive licensing process for the invention has been completed, marking a significant step toward the commercialization of the technology and its transition from academic research to industrial application.