Projects
Project: Glioblastoma
Glioblastoma is the most aggressive and prevalent primary brain tumor in adults, with approximately 250,000 new cases diagnosed annually worldwide. It is characterized by rapid proliferation, infiltration into surrounding brain tissue, and resistance to conventional therapies. Despite advances in neurosurgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, prognosis remains poor, with a median survival of 12–15 months post-diagnosis and a five-year survival rate below 7%.
Standard treatment follows a multimodal approach, beginning with maximal safe surgical resection, followed by radiotherapy and temozolomide chemotherapy (the Stupp protocol) initiated four weeks post-surgery. However, glioblastoma's invasive nature prevents complete surgical removal, and its ability to evade therapy leads to inevitable recurrence. Addressing this challenge requires novel therapeutic strategies.
Using our genetic screening technology, we identified a targeted treatment approach that offers new hope for glioblastoma patients. Driving flux of the heme biosynthesis pathway with 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) supplementation, activates artesunate, a natural compound-derived drug that induces tumor cell death. 5-ALA is clinically used as an imaging agent to enhance tumor resection, as late-stage heme pathway metabolites fluoresce and accumulate in malignant tissue. This tumor-specific increase in heme metabolism enables localized activation of artesunate. Artesunate is widely used as a first line anti-malarial treatment in millions of patients and now presents a promising glioblastoma therapy.
To ensure local and controlled delivery, we have developed a biodegradable brain implant - no larger than a penny - that continuously releases 5-ALA into the resection cavity starting immediately after surgery. When combined with oral artesunate treatment, this approach seamlessly bridges the post-surgical treatment gap, targeting residual tumor cells at their most vulnerable state to prevent recurrence.
Now in late preclinical development JLP Health plans first clinical testing of this approach in 2026.
