It is one of seven successful HRB-funded research developments being showcased today at a seminar organised by the Health Research Board (HRB) and the Irish Medical Devices Association (IMDA). The seminar is designed to bring together clinical researchers and the medical technologies industry to promote opportunities for commercialisation.
“The first clinical trial of our patented device, called EndoVe, involving a patient with inoperable colorectal cancer has been successful in eliminating the tumour,” says Dr. Declan Soden, Cork Cancer Research Centre and co-inventor.
“The device makes the tumour tissue porous, meaning the tumour absorbs chemotherapy drugs more efficiently, so less of the chemotherapy drug is used,’ explains Dr Soden. This means ease of treatment and minimal side-effects for the patient. And because the chemotherapy drugs are only absorbed in the area treated by the electrical field, it results in lower drug concentrations and potentially shorter stays in hospital. This reduces costs significantly for the health care provider,” he adds.
“It offers great hope for patients who would be unable to tolerate the normal standard of care such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and has strong potential to significantly improve the way we treat internal cancers.”
“The EndoVe was developed based on experience we had using Electrochemotherapy to successfully treat over 200 hundred patients with skin based tumours, which had an 85% positive response in terms of tumour destruction. Based on these successful findings, we designed the EndoVe device to provide an effective internal treatment that is also low in toxicity and invasiveness leading to less disruption to non-target tissues and organs,’ he says. "We are delighted to be able to report the first results in of our Phase 1 clinical trial.
The EndoVe device has reached phase 1 clinical trial stage with the support of Enterprise Ireland, Health Research Board, Science Foundation Ireland and the EU.
Picture: Dr Declan Soden with EndoVe, a patented endoscopic device, developed at Cork Cancer Research Centre, UCC for the treatment of internal cancers.
