Promising Results With Targeted Drug Delivery System for Primary Liver Cancer

FeRx Incorporated, a privately held development stage drug delivery company, recently reported encouraging data from its phase I/II clinical trial of doxorubicin adsorbed to magnetic targeted carriers (MTC-DOX), for the treatment of patients with primary liver cancer. The study results were presented at the annual scientific meeting of the Society of Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology in San Diego by Scott C. Goodwin, MD, chief of vascular and interventional radiology at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Magnetic targeted carriers (MTCs) are microparticles, composed of elemental iron and activated carbon, that serve as delivery vehicles for site-specific targeting, retention, and sustained release of pharmaceuticals. When MTCs are used for drug delivery, a small, externally positioned magnet creates a localized magnetic field within the body, and allows arterially administered drugs that are adsorbed to the MTCs to be targeted to specific sites. The physical force created by the magnetic field induces transport of theMTCs through the vascular wall, leading to localization and retention of particles at the desired site.

“With MTCs, we hope to get a significant amount of toxic cancer-killing drugs to remain in the tumor, rather than allowing them to spread throughout the body, thereby reducing side effects such as nausea and hair loss that are common in chemotherapy,” said Dr. Goodwin. “Our early results make us hopeful that site-specific drug delivery with MTCs will improve the response rates of anticancer drugs, while at the same time reducing the complications of chemotherapy.”

Phase I/II Trial Results

Dr. Goodwin presented data on 16 patients who received a single dose of doxorubicin adsorbed to MTCs via intra-arterial infusion. After 28 days, when visualized by magnetic resonance imaging, the particles remained in the targeted site with no redistribution. The study is designed to establish the safety and tolerability of MTC-DOX and to determine the maximum tolerated dose.

“We are very excited about this initial clinical study using the MTC technology. The data are very encouraging regarding the safety and tolerability of the product as well as the demonstration of specific targeting and retention of MTC-DOX in tumors,” said Jacqueline Johnson, PhD, president and CEO of FeRx Incorporated. “The company plans to initiate phase II trials later this year to further assess the dosing, safety, and efficacy of the MTC-DOX product. We will also be expanding our development program to other solid tumor indications using the MTC platform technology to deliver additional chemotherapeutic agents.”