Current Projects
Humble Beginnings with Personalized Cancer Vaccine targeting non-Hodgkins Lymphoma
Humble Beginnings with Personalized Cancer Vaccine targeting non-Hodgkins Lymphoma
- MedTech Innovations LLC was founded in June of 2013 as an emerging bioengineering leader in the field of active personalized immunotherapy targeting life-threatening cancers. Our first knowledge and experience with personalized cancer immunotherapy was an orphan designated drug called BiovaxID for the treatment of non-Hodgkins lymphoma, both mantel cell and follicular. At the time BiovaxID represented a new class of immunotherapy patient-specific cancer vaccine. Biovast International Inc, a philanthropic entrepreneur, induced tumors specific t-cell responses, slowing tumor growth and improving survival with minimal toxicity. Addition of this innovative immunotherapy to the old regimens of chemotherapy improved response rates and disease-free survival of patients with B-cell lymphoma who previously faced a grim short life span of incurable disease.
Dual-Vaccine Immunotherapy for Pancreatic Cancer
Dual-Vaccine Immunotherapy for Pancreatic Cancer
- Over 337,000 people worldwide are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer annually. More than 330,000 of those diagnosed die from the disease yearly. Despite steady advances in diagnosis and treatment that have dramatically improved outcomes and extended survival in various tumor types, pancreatic cancer remains one of the world's deadliest, with a five-year survival rate of a measly 8%. While pancreatic cancer is the 11th most common cancer in the US, it is now the third leading cause of cancer related death, and estimated to become the second within the decade, following lung cancer. The need for new, more effective treatments for this patient population has ignited our interest in the potential of immunotherapy to engage the patient's own immune system to extend survival rate and quality of human life.
- In plight, MedTech has designed a whole cell based vaccine employing patients' own (autologous) dendritic cells + macrophages and allogeneic human pancreatic cancer cells. The pre-clinical studies in mammalian models demonstrated great promise for the DUVAC vaccine, both in therapeutic and preventive settings. Compassionate Use human clinical studies in Maimonides Universidad in Buenos Aires Argentina demonstrated significant improvement in quality and duration of life in lung cancer and ovarian cancer patients post vaccination. This innovative double vaccine stimulates patient’s own immunity to battle and shrink his or her own tumors, even if metastasized. DUVAC offers hope to people where all hope has been lost, post failed chemo treatments and not susceptible to resection or debunking. This vaccine is also relatively safe, compared to radiation and chemotherapy, since the patient is being treated with his/her own cells and not toxins while already significantly ill.
Evaluation of Tracer molecule with PET for Chronic Pain Diagnosis
Evaluation of Tracer molecule with PET for Chronic Pain Diagnosis
- Pain is a major clinical problem for patients with cancer, with more than 64% of patients with metastatic cancer experiencing intense chronic pain, involving a combination of inflammation, nerve injury and other unique factors. In response to our cancer patients and the opioid abuse epidemic, We synthesized radio labeled forms of a tracer molecule, which can be detected by Positron Emission Tomography (PET), an imaging technique that enables safe, noninvasive whole body examination for pathophysiology with high sensitivity and resolution. Our studies demonstrate that PKG-1α are active in cell bodies of nociceptive neurons as long as chronic pain is perceived.
- Evidence links activated PKG-1α to Long Term Hyperexciteablitiy from nerve injury and inflammation, and thus chronic pain. NOP46 lead compound binds the activated form of PKG-1α. NOP46, the optimized PET tracer, is the 1st diagnostic agent to:
- Distinguish those who have chronic pain from those who are malingering.
- Assess objectively the intensity of chronic pain and its origin, whether from injury and/or inflammation.
- Distinguish between pain of central versus peripheral nervous system origin.
- Identify the nociceptive sensory neurons in the periphery that mediate the pain, and thus.
- Manage pain with treatment options targeting analgesics to appropriate sensory neurons