A longtime operations executive in the biopharmaceutical industry, Raj Prabhakar serves as Senior Vice President of Business Development at Caladrius Biosciences. Previously, Raj Prabhakar oversaw liver cancer research efforts at Celsion Corporation, leading a number of clinical trials using ThermoDox treatment.
Celsion has implemented its unique heat-based Lyso-Thermosensitive Liposomal Doxorubicin (LTLD) technology to create a number of liver cancer treatments. Recently, the company has incorporated the popular cancer pharmaceutical doxorubicin in its patented ThermoDox product. When heated to a temperature of 39.5 degrees Celsius, the product’s liposome alters its form, creating small holes through which doxorubicin enters the patient’s cancerous tissue.
With this method, Celsion has conducted several clinical trials to assess the use of ThermoDox in the treatment of unresectable cancers of the liver. The FDA most recently granted clearance to initiate an OPTIMA study, which aims to determine the effectiveness of ThermoDox when used in combination with traditional radio-frequency ablation (RFA) treatment. The trial is assessing the treatment of more than 550 patients across 100 international clinical trial sites. By implementing the product 15 minutes prior to RFA, researchers have seen a nearly 60 percent improvement in overall survival (OS) rate of those with liver cancer. In a subgroup of 285 patients, this optimized treatment has also increased typical OS from 53.6 to nearly 80 months.
Celsion has implemented its unique heat-based Lyso-Thermosensitive Liposomal Doxorubicin (LTLD) technology to create a number of liver cancer treatments. Recently, the company has incorporated the popular cancer pharmaceutical doxorubicin in its patented ThermoDox product. When heated to a temperature of 39.5 degrees Celsius, the product’s liposome alters its form, creating small holes through which doxorubicin enters the patient’s cancerous tissue.
With this method, Celsion has conducted several clinical trials to assess the use of ThermoDox in the treatment of unresectable cancers of the liver. The FDA most recently granted clearance to initiate an OPTIMA study, which aims to determine the effectiveness of ThermoDox when used in combination with traditional radio-frequency ablation (RFA) treatment. The trial is assessing the treatment of more than 550 patients across 100 international clinical trial sites. By implementing the product 15 minutes prior to RFA, researchers have seen a nearly 60 percent improvement in overall survival (OS) rate of those with liver cancer. In a subgroup of 285 patients, this optimized treatment has also increased typical OS from 53.6 to nearly 80 months.