RUSNANO invests in the production of drugs for the treatment of cancer
The project for the production of nanodrugs with targeted delivery for the treatment of malignant neoplasms has been approved by the Supervisory Board of RUSNANO. The total budget of the project will amount to 3,906 million rubles, of which RUSNANO investments – 1,299 million rubles.
As a result of the project, the production of effective and affordable anticancer drugs with a targeted delivery system in the form of liposomes, immunoliposomes and monoclonal antibodies will be created in Russia.
Liposomal preparations are bubbles of the order of 100 nanometers in size from one or more layers of phospholipids containing an active medicinal principle and an aqueous phase. Liposomes belong to passive targeted delivery systems – they exit the bloodstream into tissues where vascular permeability is increased, that is, in growing malignant tumors. Immunoliposomes combine passive targeted delivery with active delivery. Antibodies capable of recognizing tumor-specific molecular tags (tumor-associated antigens) are fixed on their surface. Another class of nanopreparations with active targeted delivery is monoclonal antibodies to tumor antigens associated with substances that destroy tumor cells. Such antibodies are produced (expressed) in plant cells.
Features of liposomal particles:The diameter of liposomes is about 100 nanometers
- Liposomes are obtained from phospholipids by treating them with ultrasound in an aqueous medium
- It is possible to load liposomes with various chemotherapeutic drugs (both soluble and insoluble in water)
Advantages of liposomal medicinesIncreasing the selectivity of antitumor action due to targeted delivery, expanding the range of therapeutic doses
- Reduction of toxic effects on normal organs and tissues
- Liposomes allow substances to be delivered to cells that, in the absence of liposomes, do not penetrate them.
The production of liposomes based on doxorubicin, lysomustin, cyfelin, aranose, bacteriochlorin, as well as immunoliposomes and monoclonal antibodies is scheduled for 2013-2014.
The applicant and the main developer of anticancer drugs in a new form of delivery is the N.N.Blokhin State Medical Center of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, the only medical institution in Russia that carries out a full cycle of development of domestic antitumor drugs: from a scientific idea to the introduction of a drug into medical practice. The co-investor of the project is LLC "Plant Medsintez" from Novouralsk. The plant will become the main production site for the commercialization of the developments of the N.N. Blokhin Russian Research Center of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences and the production of antitumor nanopreparations.
"The creation of the production of highly effective anticancer drugs in Russia will lead to a reduction in cancer mortality among all population groups, an increase in the duration and improvement of the quality of life of patients," says Olga Shpichko, Managing Director of RUSNANO. "A lower price will not only increase the availability of drugs for the population, but will also significantly increase the volume of purchases from the state within the framework of targeted programs with an unchanged budget."
RUSNANO Press Service
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru15.02.2010