Dr. Nitya Anand: The Visionary Behind Saheli and the Advances in Medicinal Chemistry

Cureus. 2024 Aug 30;16(8):e68208. doi: 10.7759/cureus.68208. eCollection 2024 Aug.

Abstract

Dr. Nitya Anand was a leading figure in Indian pharmaceutical research. His career spanned several decades, during which he significantly contributed to advancement in drug development and public health. His innovation of Centchroman (Saheli), the world's first non-steroidal oral contraceptive pill, changes the course of contraception use in India. He had done groundbreaking work in leprosy treatment, synthetic peptides, and antibiotics. With over 400 publications and 130 patents, he supervised over 100 PhD students. His work has been recognized with many prestigious awards, including the Padma Shri and the National Nehru Science Award, which have left a long-lasting impact on medicinal chemistry and public health.

Keywords: centchroman; family planning method; historical vignette; leprosy treatment; oral contraceptive pill (ocp); padma shree; saheli. non-steroidal; streptomycin.

Publication types

  • Review