HepaSphere's targeted chemo:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
BioSphere Medical has CE-marked its doxorubicin-impregnated microspheres for sale in Europe under the name HepaSphere. The product will be used for the transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). As a condition of the approval, BioSphere will conduct a multicentre European post-marketing registry in 100 patients. Standard TACE involves injection of a concentrated dose of a chemotherapeutic, such as doxorubicin, directly into the blood vessels supplying a tumour, followed by the infusion of an embolic agent into these blood vessels, thus blocking its blood supply. The blocked vessels force the chemotherapeutic into direct contact with the tumour and minimise side-effects. TACE using HepaSphere loaded with doxorubicin further concentrates the chemotherapeutic effect by embolising the target tissue better and delivering the drug over an extended time frame, Rockland, Massachusetts-based BioSphere claims.