Systemic delivery of current cytotoxic chemotherapy generally cannot differentiate between malignant and healthy cells, thus creating significant side effects and limiting its potential efficacy.
Due to the accelerated cell proliferation in the tumor, not all cells receive adequate blood supply, resulting in ischemia and increased apoptosis within the tumor. Recognizing this phenomenon, Aposense utilizes one of its apoptosis-targeting probes to carry a generic cytotoxic drug, with known activity, to achieve targeted delivery to the tumor, using already existing apoptotic cells within the tumor as the target.
The cytotoxic agent then acts on the surrounding tumor cells, while avoiding interaction with healthy tissues.
Aposense partnered with Teva Pharmaceuticals to develop a line of targeted oncological therapies based on the specific delivery of generic cytotoxic agents to tumor tissue by targeting apoptotic activity within the tumor. This family of compounds is named ATT (Apoptosis Targeted Therapy), and is now under evaluation for the treatment of melanoma.
[18F]-ML-10 is an investigational agent, not yet approved for use outside clinical trials