Starpharma

Dendrimers are precise, synthetic nanoscale molecules with unique properties that make them extremely advantageous in medical and pharmaceutical applications.

Starpharma is using Monash technology to harness the benefits of dendrimers through their Dendrimer Enhanced Product (DEP®) drug delivery platform and associated nanomedicines. This DEP® technology can be used to increase efficacy, reduce toxicities, improve drug targeting and extend the duration of new and existing pharmaceuticals. Current trials have shown positive results in patients with bowel cancer and ovarian cancer, improving the delivery of anti-cancer agents to tumour sites with reduced side effects. A range of DEP® related products are also reporting as much as ~70x efficacy in tumour targeting for a variety of other cancers, including cancer of the breast, lung and prostate.

Starpharma’s recent licensing deal with AstraZeneca poses great promise for further developments, with their DEP® technology and associated medicines having the potential to revolutionise cancer treatments and save lives.

Lead Researcher: Professor Chris Porter
Website: www.starpharma.com