DOXANANO
DOXANANO develops Remotely Activated Chemotherapy (RAC®), a targeted drug delivery platform using proprietary DXN polymersomes. These nanocarriers encapsulate cytotoxic agents and release them precisely within the tumor microenvironment upon X-ray irradiation, minimizing systemic toxicity and enhancing therapeutic efficacy for solid tumors.
Funding
Founders
Product
Problem
Conventional chemotherapy for solid tumors is limited by systemic toxicity, forcing dose reductions that compromise therapeutic efficacy. This necessitates a compromise between the maximum tolerated dose and the optimal anti-tumor dose, leading to suboptimal treatment outcomes and increased patient suffering.
Solution
DOXANANO is developing Remotely Activated Chemotherapy (RAC®), a targeted drug delivery platform utilizing proprietary DXN polymersomes. These nanocarriers safely encapsulate cytotoxic agents, protecting healthy tissues during systemic circulation. Upon external X-ray irradiation focused on the tumor site, the DXN polymersomes undergo a controlled cleavage, precisely releasing their therapeutic payload within the tumor microenvironment. This approach aims to enhance the concentration of chemotherapeutics at the tumor site while minimizing off-target exposure and associated adverse events. The platform's design allows for the encapsulation of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic agents, enabling combination therapies and offering a complementary modality to existing targeted therapies and immunotherapies.
Target Audience
The primary target audience includes oncologists, pharmaceutical companies, and clinical research organizations focused on solid tumor treatment.
Features
- DXN polymersomes: Robust, spherical nanoparticles engineered from biocompatible and bio-sourced polymers.
- Redox-sensitive polymer chemistry: Enables controlled cleavage and drug release triggered by X-ray irradiation.
- Dual payload encapsulation: Capable of carrying both hydrophilic agents in the core and hydrophobic agents within the membrane.
- Targeted release mechanism: X-ray-induced cleavage ensures precise spatio-temporal drug delivery within the tumor.
- Versatile therapeutic application: Suitable for various cancer types, with initial focus on digestive and head and neck cancers.
- Accelerated clinical pathway: Components (polymers, motifs, molecules) have prior regulatory approval for use in chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
- Potential for imaging and targeting: DXNs can be tracked via non-invasive imaging and functionalized for biological targeting.