Gold collaboration to attack solid cancers
OctoPlus, from Leiden, The Netherlands and CytImmune Sciences, College Park, US, have entered into a collaboration agreement to develop a novel treatment for solid cancers.
OctoPlus, from Leiden, The Netherlands and CytImmune Sciences, College Park, US, have entered into a collaboration agreement to develop a novel treatment for solid cancers.
The treatment's active agent is the anticancer protein, tumor necrosis factor (TNF). This protein has in the past been shown to be very effective against solid cancers, but also toxic, limiting its use. Using gold nanoparticles as a targeting drug delivery system, TNF will be specifically delivered to tumors.
It has been shown in animal models that by coupling TNF to colloid gold nanoparticles, less TNF is required for maximise anticancer action, reducing toxicity. Colloid gold has a long history of safe use in clinical practice. CytImmune has pioneered its use for efficient targeting of drugs and has established a strong proprietary position in this area.
Under the agreement, the parties will jointly develop a safer formulation to deliver more TNF to solid tumors and will evaluate the product in clinical studies, scheduled to start in early 2004. An undisclosed pharmaceutical partner will supply TNF for these studies.
'We are very pleased to work with CytImmune on this novel formulation of TNF,' said Joost Holthuis, ceo of OctoPlus.
'Our collaboration with OctoPlus will springboard CytImmune's patented colloid gold drug delivery technology from the bench into the clinic,' said Lawrence Tamarkin, President & ceo of CytImmune Sciences. 'Partnering OctoPlus' formulatory expertise with CytImmune's colloid gold technology holds the promise of producing a drug that may realize the therapeutic and commercial potential of TNF.'