Digestive enzyme targeted polymer therapeutic: MIT WO2007103364

Abstract

The basic claims of this application involve methods that use a polymer to deliver therapeutic molecules in a targeted fashion using a polymeric carrier, drug and a biologically degradable linker. The release of therapeutic molecule is in response to digestive enzymes that are overexpressed in diseased tissues in the body. Further claims, of the sixteen included, define the digestive enzymes and drug–polymer linkages that may be used and specify tumors as the disease of particular interest. Preclinical examples presented support the idea that this therapeutic design has merit. There does not seem to have a single clinical candidate but future work is expected to develop these molecules into clinical products for cancer and particularly cancer treatment combined with radiation.

Keywords::

• cancer
• polymer
• polymer therapeutic
• protease

Acknowledgement

Our original work on protease-activated drug delivery systems has been supported by the National Institutes of Health, National Eye Institute, National Instituted for Neurologic Disorders and Stroke, American Brain Tumor Association, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy and the American Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education.

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