Ruti Amal (Svetlana Omelchenko)

The targeted delivery of therapeutic molecules to specific cells and tissue, is probably the biggest challenge in modern medicine. Most drugs are delivered through the systemic blood circulation, and consequently the vast majority of therapeutic agents never reach the affected organs. This often leads to very low efficacy, and/or side effects. For example, it is estimated that in chemotherapy treatments, 99% of anticancer molecules never reach the tumour cite. At ProSemble, we use a proprietary technology to design new protein-based biomaterials, whose assembly and disassembly can be chemically controlled. This will be used for drug reformulation, to improve efficacy, and reduce side-effects, of existing drugs. In particular, we have developed a protein nanocage which can incorporate the anticancer drug doxorubicin, and release it in the vicinity of tumour cells. We will develop this towards the treatment of breast cancer.

The targeted delivery of therapeutic molecules to specific cells and tissue, is probably the biggest challenge in modern medicine. Most drugs are delivered through the systemic blood circulation, and consequently the vast majority of therapeutic agents never reach the affected organs. This often leads to very low efficacy, and/or side effects. For example, it is estimated that in chemotherapy treatments, 99% of anticancer molecules never reach the tumour cite. At ProSemble, we use a proprietary technology to design new protein-based biomaterials, whose assembly and disassembly can be chemically controlled. This will be used for drug reformulation, to improve efficacy, and reduce side-effects, of existing drugs. In particular, we have developed a protein nanocage which can incorporate the anticancer drug doxorubicin, and release it in the vicinity of tumour cells. We will develop this towards the treatment of breast cancer.