Karpov, Alexei and Grotzfeld, Robert (2015) OAK-approved research summary for the postdoc website. OAK-approved research summary for the postdoc website .

Abstract

The “New Modalities Group” is a recently created entity within GDC Basel. A priority research area for this new group is to evaluate and further develop a variety of techniques for the targeted delivery of novel drug molecules to diseased tissue. The ultimate goal is to apply the most effective and innovative targeting strategies to the next generation of medicines, achieving excellent efficacy and vastly superior safety profiles compared to current treatments, thus bringing the maximum benefit to patients. In our earlier work we have explored targeted delivery of cytotoxic compounds into tumor tissues in the context of antibody-drug-conjugates (ADCs). Building on this experience, we will now look beyond ADCs and investigate further opportunities for tissue targeting. In particular we would like to assess the opportunities and limitations of passive targeted delivery approaches relying on the EPR (enhanced permeability and retention) effect. Drawing from our extensive experience in linker chemistry, we aim at designing the next generation of tissue targeting systems which would release drugs only at the desired site of action, thus maximizing their therapeutic window.
As one avenue, we would like to evaluate dendrimers as carriers for drug delivery. Dendrimers represent a flexible and modular approach that will enable the exploration of specific drug release mechanisms in combination with tissue-targeting modalities. We aim to develop novel linkers and dendrimer scaffolds and evaluate biological activity of the resulting constructs in-vivo.

Item Type:	Article
Date Deposited:	26 Apr 2016 23:45
Last Modified:	26 Apr 2016 23:45
URI:	https://oak.novartis.com/id/eprint/27762