This company develops a minimally invasive surgical device that uses photodynamic therapy to treat aggressive brain tumors. Their device delivers light to cancer cells exposed to a photosensitizer, offering patients a less invasive alternative to traditional brain surgery.
Funding
$52M raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
Founders
Product
Problem
Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly aggressive and treatment-resistant brain cancer, and survival rates have remained virtually unchanged for decades. Current treatment options often fail to address tumor cells that infiltrate beyond the visible tumor mass, leading to recurrence. Existing therapies may also require invasive procedures and extended hospital stays.
Solution
Alpheus Medical is developing a non-invasive sonodynamic therapy (SDT) platform for treating aggressive brain tumors like glioblastoma. The investigational treatment combines a systemically administered drug, already approved for brain tumor surgery, with a proprietary ultrasound device. The drug selectively accumulates in cancer cells, and the device delivers focused ultrasound to the entire affected hemisphere, activating the drug to release oxygen radicals that cause cell death. This approach targets both visible tumor cells and those beyond the resection margins, and the outpatient procedure doesn't require MRI during treatment, allowing patients to return home the same day.
Target Audience
The primary target audience includes neuro-oncologists and patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) seeking less invasive treatment options.
Features
- Non-invasive ultrasound delivery to the entire diseased hemisphere of the brain
- Systemic drug administration with selective accumulation in cancer cells
- Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) mechanism of action: ultrasound activates the drug to release oxygen radicals, inducing cancer cell death
- Outpatient procedure allowing patients to return home the same day
- No MRI or other imaging required during treatment
- Targets tumor cells beyond the visible tumor margins
- Device is under investigation