Liposomase for the Tumor-specific Delivery of Chemotherapeutic Drugs
The challenge in developing effective cancer treatments is in achieving specificity so that only cancer cells are destroyed. JHU scientists have developed a novel drug delivery system that overcomes the problems caused by the low specificity of chemotherapeutic drugs. The technology utilizes a unique enzyme, called liposomase, cloned from Clostridia novyi-NT. This enzyme can be delivered to tumors through various means, including attachment to antibodies, incorporation into gene therapy vectors, or inclusion in viruses or bacteria. Because most drugs can be incorporated into liposomes, the system can be used to enhance the efficacy of most drugs; the liposomal drugs act as "prodrugs" and the liposomase converts the inactive prodrug to the active form simply by releasing the drug from the liposome. Mice with established tumors were cured after a single dose of liposomal doxorubicin or liposomal CPT-11 when liposomase was delivered to the tumors through a bacterial agent. Description (Set) Proposed Use (Set) This technology is broadly applicable to any chemotherapeutic drug encapsulated in a liposome and any tumor to which liposomase can be directed (through coupling to antibodies and incorporation into any live or inactive gene therapy vector).Inventor(s): Vogelstein, Bert
Type of Offer: Licensing
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