Targeting Tumors from the Inside Out

What It Covers

Nanology Managing Director Mark Iacobucci explains how the company's Large Surface Area Microparticle (LSAM) platform engineers existing oncology drugs into microparticles for direct intratumoral injection, achieving sustained high-concentration local drug release across six solid tumor types while eliminating systemic chemotherapy toxicity in 140 patients across seven trials.

Key Questions Answered

• •Particle size controls tumor retention: Nanology engineers microparticles at 2–3 microns specifically to become physically trapped inside tumors and avoid phagocytosis. Solutions injected intratumorally leak out rapidly by diffusion, but this size threshold locks particles in place, enabling continuous drug release for up to four to six weeks in preclinical and clinical studies.
• •Surface area amplification drives dosing intensity: LSAM technology increases particle surface area 10x for hydrophobic drugs like paclitaxel and docetaxel, and 2x for more water-soluble agents like cisplatin. This counterintuitive large-particle/high-surface-area combination forms the basis of Nanology's composition patent and enables tumor drug concentrations 10x higher than standard IV formulations.
• •Immunogenic cell death unlocks checkpoint synergy: High sustained local drug exposure shifts tumor cell death from apoptosis to immunogenic cell death, causing tumor membranes to rupture and release antigens that prime immune responses. Preclinical models demonstrate synergy with checkpoint inhibitors, and clinical bladder, pancreas, and lung studies show measurable favorable immune cell changes post-treatment.
• •Multiple dosing cycles overcome tumor heterogeneity: A single intratumoral injection cannot reliably reach all regions of a heterogeneous solid tumor. Nanology's clinical protocol delivers two to three monthly doses, with preclinical and clinical data confirming more consistent tumor response with repeat dosing. Pathologic response in neoadjuvant lung and pancreatic cancer serves as an early surrogate endpoint for trial decisions.
• •Platform prioritization uses surrogate endpoint availability: When selecting indications, Nanology evaluates unmet need, market size, enrollment feasibility, existing data strength, and critically, the availability of early surrogate endpoints like pathologic response. Phase 2b/3 protocols are drafted for locally advanced pancreatic cancer and non-small cell lung cancer, with pharma partnership discussions actively underway for both LSAM paclitaxel and docetaxel programs.