Certain classes of fluorescent dyes bind selectively to a number of cancer cells. (Biomaterials, 2012, 33, 2230-2239). Standard-of-care chemotherapy drugs continue to be a significant treatment for many cancer types (over 25% of all cancer treatments.). By combining these two molecules into a single compound, referred to as a "conjugate," we have shown that the dye will continue to bind to cancer cells, bringing the chemotherapy drugs along, which can then be released by the linker, joining the dye and the drug, allowing the drug to destroy the cancer. This effect has been shown repeatedly in multiple different cancer types. We have demonstrated that these conjugates will penetrate deep within tumors. Finally, we have demonstrated equivalent efficacy to standard chemotherapy drugs with improved toxicity. This is a significant achievement.

 

Lahjavida's team of scientists and drug development professionals have reviewed this data and agree that we have achieved some important milestones.  

 

Progress to date:

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1. Created a dye molecule that binds effectively to over 30 different types of cancer while avoiding healthy tissues.

2. Binding of dye to linker molecules while enhancing tumor selectivity.

3. Confirmed that the fluorescence characteristics of the dye are maintained.

4. Measured the uptake of the Dye Drug Conjugate in lung, breast, and colon cancer cells. 

5. Confirmed the presence of pure chemotherapy in cancer cells in vivo. 

6. Observed very low toxicity at high dosages of multiple Dye Drug Conjugates. 

7. Attached the dye to the linker from two different locations on the dye,  changing the selective nature of the tumor-targeting dye. 

8. Multiple different Dye Drug Conjugates have been observed to have tumor efficacy in lung and colon cancer models in mice. 

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