Clinical-stage biotechnology company FivepHusion has announced a commercial transaction with the University of Wollongong for an exclusive option over its ResectAssist Drug Delivery Platform.
This drug-eluting biodegradable implant enables targeted administration of a diverse range of approved and investigational drugs directly into solid tumours with high unmet medical needs.
Drugs are delivered directly into solid tumours via standard endoscopy, facilitating focused high-dose therapy, maximising efficacy and minimising side effects.
The lead drug candidate, ResectAssist-FOLFIRINOX, is in development for unresectable locally-advanced pancreatic cancer and is designed to downgrade these tumours to being resectable with curative intent.
FivepHusion CEO and managing director Dr Christian Toouli said, “This transaction formalises a long-term collaboration with the University of Wollongong to secure an exciting pipeline development opportunity that will ultimately follow the development and commercialisation of Deflexifol. We are looking forward to rapidly developing the ResectAssist Platform into a clinical trial program to optimise treatment for cancer patients.”
The University of Wollongong ResectAssist Program involves an expert multi-disciplinary team led by Associate Professor Kara Perrow and Professor Morteza Aghmesheh.
Professor Aghmesheh said, “There is a significant unmet medical for the treatment of pancreatic cancer patients, and in particular those with unresectable disease. The ResectAssist technology is designed to optimally deliver the FOLFIRINOX regimen, the most efficacious but also the most toxic therapy, facilitating maximum anti-cancer efficacy without typical systemic side effects.”
Associate Professor Perrow added, “The ResectAssist Platform enables delivery of a diverse range of drug payloads directly into solid tumours via standard endoscopy procedures. We are excited to collaborate with FivepHusion to develop this technology to treat pancreatic cancer and a broad range of other tumours.”