Clinical trials use electronic pulses to attack cancer cells

A groundbreaking way of getting stubborn cancer cells to respond to treatment has taken a major step with the commencement of clinical trials.

The product was developed by Irish medical devices company MitaMed, which is a spin out firm supported by UCC.

The method involves targeting cancer cells with electronic pulses because it was discovered that when this happens the tumours are more responsive to medication.

The approach is of particular importance in the race to find ways to attack cancers discovered in the lungs and stomach. If successful, it will allow far fewer chemotherapy drugs to be used, reduce the harm done to healthy cells surround the tumour and minimise the effect on patients.

Mitamed’s chief executive, Michael Loftus, said it hopes to raise €3m to support the development of the treatment and to fund the work needed to ensure it gets approved by regulators for general sale.

“With projected sales of €14m in five years, MitaMed is on track to successfully deliver a new standard of care for cancer patients, with better outcomes and reduced financial burden,” he said.

The company has been given approval by the Irish Medicines Board to conduct clinical trials.

And these will focus on patients with colorectal cancer who are under the care of doctors at hospitals in Cork and Dublin.

The trials are being supervised by Deirdre McNamara of Tallaght Hospital.

The company has also formed strategic partnerships with five specialist Cancer Centre of Excellence hospitals in Europe including Trinity Health (Tallaght/ St James), Mercy Hospital, Cork, and hospitals in the UK and Sweden.

UCC commercial specialist Kevin Dalton said Mitamed’s success since it launched last year has vindicated its approach to supporting start-up companies with high potential.