Cancer patients to benefit from DRDO wonder capsules

Herbal capsules developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is expected to be available for use in the next one year. According to officials, the pills will be made available for quick reaction teams (QRTs), that are pressed into service first during nuclear attacks or leaks.

Others who will benefit from this wonder drug will be cancer patients exposed to radiotherapy, and finally, those living in areas which have high-level radio-active presence.

The capsules, when consumed, act as de-corporating agents, thereby reducing the risks in case a person came in contact with nuke substances.

William Selvamurthy, DRDO’s Chief Controller and life sciences head said, “We are to complete the Nuclear-Biological-Chemical (NBC) project in 2014, which has 12 deliverables and 24 science and technology projects leading to deliverables. We are on track,” he said.

According to him, Indian armed forces have already began the process of acquisition of NBC equipment worth Rs 3,000 crore in the next five years.

“Most of these equipment and technologies are made in India, a strong pointer towards the inroads we made in developing life-saving devices,” Selvamurthi said.

To counter chemical warfare threats, the scientists have also developed auto-jet injectors, which can deliver ‘atropine sulphate’ and ‘palm chloride’ for the treatment of nerve agents.

“Sulfur mustard and nitrogen mustard are blister-causing agents. We have developed the first anti-dote that works against these agents. Blisters can reduce the fluids in the body significantly,” he said. The scientists have also developed nano-particles in decontamination solution in the event of NBC attack.