H Lee Moffitt and Genetronics initiate Phase I trial

Published: 24-Jan-2005

Genetronics Biomedical and the H Lee Moffitt Cancer Center have initiated a Phase I clinical trial using Genetronics' MedPulser system to deliver plasmid DNA to tumours with the aim of treating malignant melanoma.


Genetronics Biomedical and the H Lee Moffitt Cancer Center have initiated a Phase I clinical trial using Genetronics' MedPulser system to deliver plasmid DNA to tumours with the aim of treating malignant melanoma.

The trial is sponsored by the H Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and will measure the safety of Genetronics' electroporation system to deliver plasmid DNA into tumour cells to mount an immune response.

In this Phase I open-label study, plasmid DNA encoding a cytokine is delivered directly to tumours in patients with malignant melanoma through electroporation using the MedPulser system. This technology enables the entry and significant uptake of plasmid DNA into the tumour cells, ultimately leading to cytokine production. The intent of this procedure is to induce an immune response that will eliminate the cancer.

'We look forward to working with the world-renowned H Lee Moffitt Cancer Center to treat one of the deadliest and hardest to treat forms of cancer, melanoma, using our MedPulser system,' said Dr Avtar Dhillon, president and ceo of Genetronics. 'We believe this milestone - the first use of the MedPulser system, and electroporation, to deliver plasmid DNA in a human clinical trial - represents an important accomplishment for Genetronics and for electroporation technology. It highlights the vital role we are playing to develop novel therapies for diseases with significant unmet clinical needs.'

Dr Richard Heller, investigator at the H Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and the university of South Florida, college of medicine, stated: 'Preclinical data with cytokine DNA therapy in animals showed significant tumour regression, even in distal untreated tumours, and we are pleased to see this technology move into clinical testing. We see much promise in this new application of Genetronics' electroporation technology to potentially induce a systemic anti-cancer immune response in patients in a manner that has reduced side effects relative to traditional cancer treatment.'

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