Vanadium-Containing Nanoscale Molecules as Cancer Killing Drugs
Application
Use of nanoscale vanadium containing compounds for the treatment of cancers.
Key Benefits
- Potent anti-cancer compound is effective against many drug-resistant types of cancers.
- Anti-cancer mechanism inhibits tumor growth with almost no organ toxicity.
- Compound can be synthesized at low cost.
Market Summary
Cancer is the leading cause of death in the U.S. and around the world. Nanomedicine has emerged as a new avenue to tackle the challenge of disease treatment. Several nanomedicines are FDA-approved and even more are in clinical trial. The emergence of drug resistant cancers and a low success rate among drug candidates, however, continues to increase the need for new oncology therapeutics.
Technical Summary
Emory researchers have developed a vanadium-containing nanoscale molecule for selective killing of cancer cells. The molecule opportunistically exploits cancer cell metabolism and disrupts the reduction/oxidation balance while leaving normal cells untouched. The novel compound incorporates the transition metal vanadium and can be synthesized at relatively low cost. This nanoscale molecule significantly suppresses the growth of a broad spectrum of cancer cells, including drug-resistant types. Emory researchers have demonstrated efficacy at micromolar concentrations with limited-to-no cytotoxicity for non-cancer cells. In vivo studies have also shown tumor growth inhibition. The compound shows superior efficacy and almost no organ toxicity in stark contrast to currently marketed cancer therapeutics.
Developmental Stage
This project is currently in pre-clinic evaluations.
Patent Information
| App Type |
Country |
Serial No. |
Patent No. |
File Date |
Issued Date |
Patent Status |
| Nationalized PCT - Foreign |
China |
201780057583.3 |
ZL 2017800575833 |
3/19/2019 |
4/5/2022 |
Issued |
| Nationalized PCT - United States |
United States |
16/345,578 |
11,331,297 |
4/26/2019 |
5/17/2022 |
Issued |
| Nationalized PCT - Foreign |
EP |
17864572.7 |
|
5/15/2019 |
|
Pending |
| Divisional |
United States |
17/744,369 |
|
5/13/2022 |
|
Pending |
|
|