Pharmaco-Kinesis Corporation reported development of the first combinatorial nano-drug product candidate, a combination of Temozolomide (Merck & Co.) and Thalidomide (Celgene) nanoparticles to be tested for treatment of gliomas and other cancers. Based on the collaboration with University of California, San Diego's Department of NanoEngineering at the Moores Cancer Center, PKC is planning development and testing of the nano-droplet TNT(TM), a combination of Temozolomide, an anti-cancer drug from Merck & Co. Inc., and Thalidomide, an anti-cancer drug from Celgene Corporation, in a formulation with ratio of 50% Temozolomide and 50% Thalidomide. PKC predicts that direct local site delivery will be required to achieve the potentially high efficacy of the nano-drugs. PKC is in the process of developing a microminiaturized Metronomic Biofeedback Pump Nano (MBPn) version, a fully implantable infusion pump that enables programmable, metronomic, local delivery and sampling via a multi-channel catheter that has the potential to avoid elimination by the liver. PKC hopes that the MBPn will increase therapeutic efficacy of drugs while reducing their side effects in comparison with current systemic delivery methods.

Pharmaco-Kinesis Corporation announced its first commercialized offering, the first-generation Nano-Impedance Biosensor (NIB). The NIB detects VEGF-165 (vascular endothelial growth factor), a general biomarker correlating to the presence of a cancerous tumor in the body. VEGF-165 is documented to play a significant role in angiogenesis--the fundamental process in tumor growth and metastasis--for various types of cancers. The NIB is an integrated part of the company's Metronomic Biofeedback Pump (MBP) drug-delivery system and measures the VEGF-165 marker as an indicator of patient disease status and effectiveness of therapy following the administration of treatment medications. About the size of an aspirin, the NIB offers sensitivity to detect VEGF at levels as low as 1 to 10 protein molecules in the billions of molecules present in 1 mL of blood or cerebral fluid, which is unlike any other VEGF-detecting mechanism available. Adell explained that the company foresees that PKC next-generation products using NIB technology could become available for over-the-counter consumer purchase at local pharmacies and be used to measure biomarkers for cancer and other chronic illnesses, much in the same way blood pressure or glucose levels are measured. Data from readings could then be sent wirelessly and automatically via internet or mobile device to a physician or hospital for evaluation.