Preventing Coronary Artery Obstruction

January 3, 2007

“It should not be approached as a cancerous growth affecting the entire body. Therefore, it is necessary to direct the anti-cancer drug only to the site where the stent is. The stent makers put the drug on the stent during manufacturing. It is supposed to be slowly released over half a year. The problem with this approach is that control is not accurate enough both with respect to the duration and rate of drug release.”

Lotan’s team proposes that patients be supplied with certain completely neutral materials, in a pro-drug form. This material turns into a drug only when it comes into contact with the special enzyme set on the stent.

“The pro-drug is an amino acid––a natural component of all proteins––that can be swallowed without any harmful side effects,” explains Lotan. “Thus, we enable controlled release of the drug in the desired place only, as well as over the desired time period. The patient simply stops taking the pro-drug when it becomes clear that uncontrolled tissue growth is not [being] created at the stent site.” This approach can be applied for different medical problems. It will be several years before it is available to patients.

For more information, call Technion spokesperson Amos Levav, 972-52-452-4873.

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