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December 13, 2024

Drug delivery innovation to power next-generation cancer treatment

UOW and FivepHusion announce exclusive option agreement for development and commercialisation of Resectassist™ Drug Delivery Platform

The University of ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ (UOW) has secured a partnership with advanced clinical-stage biotechnology company FivepHusion to bring the innovative ResectAssist™ Drug Delivery Platform closer to clinical application.

The agreement allows FivepHusion to develop the platform, which is designed to deliver cancer treatments directly into solid tumours with high unmet medical needs.

Developed by a multidisciplinary team at UOW led by Associate Professor and Professor Morteza Aghmesheh, the ResectAssist™ Platform is a biodegradable implant that enables precise, high-dose delivery of therapies directly into tumours using standard endoscopy techniques.

By minimising systemic side effects and maximising treatment efficacy, the platform has the potential to transform care for conditions like locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) that are unresectable (cannot be completely removed with surgery), one of the most challenging cancers to treat.

“The ResectAssist™ Platform enables delivery of a diverse range of drug payloads directly into solid tumours via standard endoscopy procedures,” Associate Professor Perrow said.

“We are excited to collaborate with FivepHusion to develop this technology to treat pancreatic cancer and a broad range of other tumours.”

FivepHusion CEO Dr. Christian Toouli emphasised the significance of the collaboration: “This transaction formalises a long-term collaboration with the University of ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ to secure an exciting pipeline development opportunity that will ultimately follow the development and commercialisation of Deflexifol®. We are looking forward to rapidly developing the ResectAssist™ Platform into a clinical trial program to optimise treatment for cancer patients.”

The platform’s lead drug candidate, ResectAssist™-FOLFIRINOX, focuses on LAPC, delivering high-dose FOLFIRINOX chemotherapy (5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin) directly into tumours. The treatment aims to convert inoperable cancers into resectable ones, increasing the potential for curative outcomes.

Professor Aghmesheh, an honorary clinical professor at UOW, highlighted the platform’s impact.

“There is a significant unmet medical need for the treatment of pancreatic cancer patients, and in particular those with unresectable disease,” Professor Aghmesheh said.

“The ResectAssist™ technology is designed to optimally deliver the FOLFIRINOX regimen, the most efficacious but also the most toxic therapy, facilitating maximum anti-cancer efficacy without typical systemic side effects.”

Pancreatic cancer remains a critical global health challenge, with survival rates under 10% and limited treatment options. UOW’s ResectAssist™ technology addresses this urgent need by offering a safer, more effective therapeutic pathway for patients.

While its initial focus is on pancreatic cancer, the ResectAssist™ Platform holds potential for treating a wide range of solid tumours. The technology can deliver various drug types, from small molecules to advanced biologics and mRNA-based therapies, providing opportunities to partner with biopharmaceutical companies and expand into other cancer markets.

The partnership underscores UOW’s commitment to translating groundbreaking research into real-world solutions that improve lives. ResectAssist™ exemplifies how UOW researchers are addressing some of the world’s most pressing health challenges, positioning the University as a leader in innovation and collaboration.