In 1947, biochemist Yellapragada SubbaRow co-discovered the first cancer chemotherapy agent for children suffering from acute leukemia.

While working with Dr. Sidney Farber, the father of modern chemotherapy, SubbaRow developed an effective folic acid antagonist drug named aminopterin – one of the very first cancer chemotherapy agents used by Farber in children suffering from acute leukemia.

In that same year, folic acid antagonist teropterin and aminopterin were found to be effective in acute leukemia cases but were also equally destructive for normal cells of the body. Moreover, long-term studies showed relapse of leukemia in all patients exhibiting a temporary control at a high cost of adverse effects.

One of his internal memos showed how he directed his team to put efforts in producing a relatively nontoxic compound that would lead to discovery of amethopterin or methotrexate, which was much safer. In 1948, Farber in his seminal article published in New England Journal of Medicine, acknowledged SubbaRow and his team’s contribution as a foundation for their landmark paper.

He was also known for isolating a number of B-vitamins and discovering polymixin.