New drug delivery process gives hope to leukemia patientsTNN | Oct 3, 2016, 03.45 AM IST
Coimbatore: It's common to see leukemia patients develop resistance towards the drug during treatment, leaving them with bone marrow transplant as the only choice of cure. Bone marrow transplant, however, is not an easy option in-part due to difficulties in getting a matching donor, doctors say.
Manzoor Koyakutty along with Shantikumar Nair and Dr Pavithran K, researchers at Amrita University's Centre for Nanoscienes and Nanomedicine, have identified a new drug delivery system that they say could eliminate the drug resistance in leukemia.
Chronic myeloid Leukemia is a condition where the body produces excess white blood cells. These cells accumulate around the bone marrow and interfere with the production of blood cells. According to a study, only 5% patients with adult leukemia in India survive after diagnosis.
There are drugs available in the market to treat leukemia. "If the disease progresses while on any of these drugs, then the only option currently available to them is bone marrow transplant or supportive care," said the head of medical oncology at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi, Dr K Pavithran.
A patient develops resistance towards a drug due to gene mutation when the cancer cells proliferate. So a more efficient drug can eliminate resistance developing, the researchers say.
The scientists along with their PhD scholars worked on a core-shell nanomedicine technique to improve the action of the drug. In this technique, the scientists have used two components - the drug and an inhibitor.
"The nanoparticle is divided into two compartments - shell and core. The drug is embedded in the shell, and the inhibitor is embedded in the core. When the nanoparticle comes in contact with cancer cells, it dissolves and the drug begins action," said professor Shantikumar Nair.
"The inhibitor prevents the cancer cells from evading the drug's action. This improves the efficiency of the drug," he added.
The two drugs are not given together in free form since they can react with each other and create toxicity and increase the chances of reaction with blood components.
"If the two drugs are given separately they may not be effective," said Nair.
The technology was awarded a US patent in July 2016. At present, the technology has been tested with human samples, and the four-year-long research work was carried out with the help of Rs5crore granted by the department of biotechnology (DBT).
"In addition, we are likely to receive Rs7crore from DBT to carry out studies on animals and perform human trials. Amrita will also invest Rs3crore to set up a good manufacturing process (GMP) and a clean room facility," said Nair, adding that it will take another five years for the scientists to come out with the drug.
Coimbatore: It's common to see leukemia patients develop resistance towards the drug during treatment, leaving them with bone marrow transplant as the only choice of cure. Bone marrow transplant, however, is not an easy option in-part due to difficulties in getting a matching donor, doctors say.
Manzoor Koyakutty along with Shantikumar Nair and Dr Pavithran K, researchers at Amrita University's Centre for Nanoscienes and Nanomedicine, have identified a new drug delivery system that they say could eliminate the drug resistance in leukemia.
Chronic myeloid Leukemia is a condition where the body produces excess white blood cells. These cells accumulate around the bone marrow and interfere with the production of blood cells. According to a study, only 5% patients with adult leukemia in India survive after diagnosis.
There are drugs available in the market to treat leukemia. "If the disease progresses while on any of these drugs, then the only option currently available to them is bone marrow transplant or supportive care," said the head of medical oncology at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi, Dr K Pavithran.
A patient develops resistance towards a drug due to gene mutation when the cancer cells proliferate. So a more efficient drug can eliminate resistance developing, the researchers say.
The scientists along with their PhD scholars worked on a core-shell nanomedicine technique to improve the action of the drug. In this technique, the scientists have used two components - the drug and an inhibitor.
"The nanoparticle is divided into two compartments - shell and core. The drug is embedded in the shell, and the inhibitor is embedded in the core. When the nanoparticle comes in contact with cancer cells, it dissolves and the drug begins action," said professor Shantikumar Nair.
"The inhibitor prevents the cancer cells from evading the drug's action. This improves the efficiency of the drug," he added.
The two drugs are not given together in free form since they can react with each other and create toxicity and increase the chances of reaction with blood components.
"If the two drugs are given separately they may not be effective," said Nair.
The technology was awarded a US patent in July 2016. At present, the technology has been tested with human samples, and the four-year-long research work was carried out with the help of Rs5crore granted by the department of biotechnology (DBT).
"In addition, we are likely to receive Rs7crore from DBT to carry out studies on animals and perform human trials. Amrita will also invest Rs3crore to set up a good manufacturing process (GMP) and a clean room facility," said Nair, adding that it will take another five years for the scientists to come out with the drug.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/New-drug-delivery-process-gives-hope-to-leukemia-patients/articleshow/54647331.cms