ChemioCare reports rosy results in animal study for CMIO-Ondan patch

ChemioCare USA Inc, a private biotech company focused on cancer care, announced Wednesday optimistic results from an animal study evaluating CMIO-Ondan, its transdermal patch of the drug ondansetron, which treats chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.

A study in mini-pigs showed that CMIO-Ondan can effectively deliver sustained blood levels of the drug ondansetron over five days.

READ: ChemioCare prepares for coming IPO by developing pipeline of transdermal patches

At the core of ChemioCare’s business, which is just under two years old, is its transdermal technology, which uses adhesive patches to deliver medicines via the skin.

CMIO Ondan is designed to provide protection from nausea and vomiting when symptoms of chemotherapy are both acute and delayed by providing an immediate effect as well as sustained treatment. The drug’s delivery via a five-day patch avoids periods of no protection which arise when the medicine is taken orally due to ondansetron’s short four-hour half-life.

The main aim of the current study is to measure ondansetron plasma concentrations in mini-pigs following the application of a single patch. The current data shows it is possible to prepare an adhesive patch that is capable of delivering therapeutic quantities of ondansetron via the skin.

The patch site on the minipigs was inspected before and after its application and assessed for skin irritation using the Draize skin irritation scale. No major skin irritation issues were observed.

“The safety and pharmacokinetic data support continued development of ChemioCare’s ondansetron matrix patch,” said CEO Pedro Lichtinger in a statement.

Jamie Oliver, ChemioCare’s chief medical officer, was equally bullish on the advance.

“The results of this preclinical study demonstrate that CMIO-Ondan can provide sufficient blood levels to achieve efficacy in the delayed stage of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting,” Oliver said in a statement. “No currently available 5-HT3 receptor antagonist has been successful in providing additional protection to patients from vomiting for a full 5 days following Highly Emetogenic Chemotherapy.”

CMIO-Ondan is set to enter a human proof of concept clinical study later this year. The aim of this study will be to assess the optimal dose, safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetic profile of CMIO-Ondan in humans. Once that trial is complete, CMIO-Ondan is expected to be evaluated in a pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial.

Based in New York, ChemioCare is focused on improving the potency of generic medicines through its transdermal delivery patches. ChemioCare’s patches can achieve the same or better effect as oral medicines, but with lower doses and stable and sustained protection. The company is looking to go public later this year.

Contact Ellen Kelleher at [email protected]

Story by ProactiveInvestors