Nanoparticle anti-cancer drug tested on humans

Filed in archive Medical on July 21, 2006

Insert Therapeutics has treated its first patient in a Phase I study of IT-101, its lead anti-cancer compound, says a company press release:

The study involves patients with inoperable or metastatic solid tumors and has been designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of IT-101. Between 24 and 48 patients will be enrolled in the study being conducted at the City of Hope Cancer Center in Duarte, CA.

IT-101 is a combination of patented polymer technology, Cyclosert, and the anti-cancer compound camptothecin. Insert's proprietary Cyclosert delivery system is based on small cyclic repeating molecules of glucose called cyclodextrins.

Using modified cyclodextrins as building blocks, Insert has developed an entirely new proprietary class of materials called linear cyclodextrin-containing polymers. To the company's knowledge, Cyclosert is the first nanoparticulate drug delivery platform to be designed de novo and synthesized specifically to overcome limitations in existing delivery technologies used for the systemic delivery of therapeutics.

In numerous animal studies conducted by Insert, treatment with IT-101 result in protracted anti-tumor activities that are substantially more effective than irinotecan or camptothecin administered alone. (photo City of Hope Cancer Center)