Novel Anticancer Pro-Drugs Activated by Hydrogen Peroxide
Safer – Prodrugs are specifically designed only to be toxic for cancer cellsSpecific activation – Targeted specifically to the tumor microenvironment Versatile – The triggers can be added to a wide variety of already known cancer drugs Multifunctional – The compounds contain multiple effectors for fighting cancer cells Better drug properties – Prodrug design can aid in pharmaceutical problems of poor solubility, poorchemical stability, insufficient absorption, inadequate blood-brain barrier permeability, and presystemicmetabolism
In the last decade, oncology has been one of the largest segments in the pharmaceutical market, with amajor focus on targeted agents specific to tumors. Global oncology spending hit $91 billion last year andis growing at 5% annually. The NIH estimates that the overall costs of cancer in 2010 were approximately$264 billion. Targeted cancer drugs now make up 46% of cancer sales. Cancer is the second mostcommon cause of death in the US, only exceeded by heart disease, accounting for nearly 1 in every 4deaths.
Dr. Xiaohua Peng has used a synergistic combination of synthetic chemistry and biological techniques forthe development of new anticancer agents that target the tumor microenvironment. Specifically, she hasdesigned pro-drug compounds containing “triggers” that are activated by high levels of hydrogen peroxidedeep inside a tumor.
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