First cancer patients treated with pSivida microparticles

Global nanotechnology company pSivida has begun its Phase IIa clinical trial in Singapore with the first two patients receiving BioSilicon in the form of BrachySil microparticles.

The study is evaluating the performance of BrachySil, a radioactive 32-phosphorus micro-particle, in regressing otherwise inoperable tumours of the liver (primary liver cancer).

Unlike other approaches, BrachySil is being applied intratumourally where it is expected to regress the tumour with minimal damage to healthy liver tissue.

The trial is being conducted at the Singapore General Hospital, one of Singapore's state of the art hospitals for the treatment of cancer, and the trial will recruit up to 10 patients in coming weeks.

pSivida managing director Gavin Rezos said: 'We have been working to this goal for the past two years. We hope to inform the pharmaceutical market of the performance of BrachySil by the end of October 2004.'

The Australian-based biotechnology company has as its core focus the development and commercialisation of nano-structured porous silicon (BioSilicon) in biocompatible and biodegradable forms for use in healthcare through its wholly owned UK subsidiary pSiMedica.

BioSilicon has multiple potential applications across the high growth healthcare sector, including controlled drug delivery, brachytherapy, tissue engineering and orthopaedics.