Vector Bioscience Cambridge has established a new collaboration with researchers from the University of Glasgow to develop and evaluate a new formulation to treat Mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is a rare but aggressive cancer that primarily affects the lining of the lungs (pleural mesothelioma) and is strongly associated with prior exposure to asbestos (reference: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519530/). Despite regulatory bans in many countries, cases continue to emerge due to the long latency period between exposure and disease onset. In the UK, around 2,700 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year, with a global incidence of ~4.5 cases per 100,000 population). The prognosis remains poor: the average life expectancy after diagnosis is 12 to 21 months, and the five-year survival rate is less than 10%. According to Cancer Research UK, approximately 45% of patients in England survive one year post-diagnosis, and just over 5% survive five years or more Treatment options are limited, and there is an urgent need for new therapeutic strategies that can improve patient outcomes and quality of life.
Through this new collaboration, Vector will develop a novel nanocarrier-based formulation specifically designed to address the challenges of mesothelioma treatment. The formulation aims to enable targeted delivery and controlled release of therapeutic agents, with the goal of improving efficacy while reducing toxicity. Targeted delivery is particularly relevant in mesothelioma, where localised drug release may help limit side effects and overcome the limited penetration of conventional therapies.
The evaluation of the nanocarrier will be assessed by the University of Glasgow team The initial study will focus on efficacy and preliminary safety outputs with further, more expansive follow up studies in a subsequent phase. We have jointly developed a detailed preclinical study plan to ensure alignment with regulatory expectations and support future clinical translation.
The team at the University of Glasgow are members of the PREDICT-Meso Network, an international network interested in the cure of mesothelioma. The team comprises Professor Daniel Murphy, Dr Pooyeh Farahmand, and Programme Manager Dr Alex MacPherson working in close association with Professor Kevin Blyth, a respiratory clinician experienced in designing and leading clinical trials.
This project represents a key milestone for Vector as we continue to explore the potential of our nanocarrier system in precision medicine, with an initial focus on hard-to-treat cancers. We look forward to sharing further updates on this collaboration as the work progresses.