Optimal Delivery of Drugs for Malignant Tumor Therapy
3D-Therapy - simple, though revolutionary, concept developed by Scopus Medical Systems: devices for rapid injection of drugs into multiple sites throughout solid tumors. The aim: more efficient therapy with less adverse reactions.
The devastating attack of Israeli settlements in the Western Negev on October 7th, 2023, led to intensive effort to rebuild the shattered communities. Dr. Erez Nevo, a veteran investigator and entrepreneur in biotech, came to a clear decision – to organize a new company in the area. Thus came to the world Scopus Medical Systems, a new company in the SouthUp Accelerator in Sderot, aiming to develop new methods for optimal delivery of drug against solid tumors.
"During the last decade cancer therapy has been revolutionized through the introduction of immunotherapy – helping the patient's immune system to fight the tumor", explains Dr. Nevo. "Rather than, or in addition to, the destruction or removal of the tumor (by excision, by cytotoxic drugs, or by radiation), oncologists use agents that initiate an immune response or enhance an already established immune response. The current clinical approach is to use systemic delivery (i.e., intravenously or through the mouth), which may activate the immune system not only against the tumor, but also against healthy tissues and organs and cause substantial adverse reactions".
The technology developed by Scopus provides a simple, yet revolutionary, solution: in analogy to 3D-printing, where complex 3D objects can be manufactured by integrating multiple small material depositions, 3D-therapy enables the injection of drug into multiple sites throughout the tumor and achieve full coverage of tumors with any shape. The unique needle is inserted into the tumor through a single port, steered to multiple sites throughout the tumor, and delivers small quantity of drug into each site. When drugs are injected into one or few injection sites, as currently practiced in intratumoral injection, substantial quantity of the drug may leak through the injection port, or it may not diffuse to cover the whole tumor.
The new technology and device raise substantial interest: Scopus has initiated collaboration with a pharmaceutical company that develops new drugs for intratumoral injection; the 3DT device is scheduled to be evaluated by a leading biotech company; and we discuss the use of the device in pet dogs with cancer with a leading veterinarian drug company.
Which patients can benefit from the new technology?
We plan to start using 3D-Therapy in small patient populations. For example, in the USA about 3,000 women are diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy. Due to potential harm to the fetus, there are major limitations on the use of anti-cancer therapeutics. Multisite intratumoral injection of drugs that remain in the tumor may change the course of the cancer in these patients.
How does the system work in practice?
We have developed several versions – starting with a simple manual device, through a device coupled with a syringe pump for semi-automatic injection, and at the higher end – a robotic system for high-precision, optimal coverage of the injected drugs in tumors with irregular shapes. The injection procedure can be conducted through the skin, endoscopically, or during laparoscopy. This will enable the use of the device in many types of tumors, including lung cancer, which is the leading cause of death in cancer patients. Scopus is presently looking for investors to support the development of the technology through the Heznek program of the Israel Innovation Authority.
"Our aim is not only to reduce adverse reactions due to systemic delivery of drugs, but also to maximize the effectiveness of immunotherapy. When the tumor is exposed to higher dose of therapy, the activation of the immune system against the tumor is more potent." The new 3D-therapy approach offers a potential solution to a major clinical problem – how to optimize immunotherapy. "Success in cancer management is measured by improving patients' outcome", summarizes Dr. Nevo. "We believe that our new technology will improve cancer management and will provide hope to many patients."
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Through collaboration with Scopus Medical Systems, Ltd.
