July 8, 2004
In a move that combines two high-tech sectors being actively promoted by the government, nano technology and biotechnology, the Development Center for Biotechnology (DCB), a non-profit research and development organization funded in part by Taiwan's government, is developing a nano liposome drug delivery system. This delivery system is expected to enhance the effectiveness of cancer treatment due to its highly accurate ability to identify cancer cells and its efficient delivery method. With the center already preparing to begin animal testing, its new system could be ready for use in cancer treatment within two years.
DCB has also signed a deal with Level Biotechnology Inc., a local company that specializes in transgenic animals and live-cell high-throughput screening. These partners, which plan to cooperate on animal testing and future clinical testing, believe this cooperation plan will validate delivery platforms for target drugs and enhance the treatment effectiveness of new medicines. Projects such as this one demonstrate how Taiwanese enterprises are improving their abilities to develop new pharmaceuticals.
The DCB says that its nano liposome drug delivery system marks an improvement over liposome delivery systems presently on the market. The DCB's system permits a more accurate identification of cancer cells and is more efficient at delivering anticancer drugs to cancer cells.
Patent application procedures have already been initiated for this delivery system. Once transgenic animal testing and live-cell high-throughput screening have been completed, this new system is expected to perform better than currently marketed anticancer drugs such as Doxil. Not only will it more accurately target cancer cells, it will also deliver stronger medicines in smaller doses while remaining highly stable. This means fewer side effects and greater efficiency in the suppression of cancer cells.
Initial testing will focus primarily on tumors associated with the endocrine system such as lung cancer, breast cancer and intestinal cancer.
This type of cooperation between the research community and industry, which efficiently integrates domestic resources, is expected to become a model for the development of new pharmaceutical products in Taiwan. (Min Sheng Pao)
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