InteliSpark client, Shasqi, Inc., wins a $2 million grant from the National Health Institutes to conduct a phase I clinical trial for a novel drug that the biotech startup is developing in the treatment of solid tumors.
According to the World Health Organization, nearly 10 million people died from cancer worldwide in 2020. The vast majority of these cases were from malignant solid tumors such as sarcomas, carcinomas, and lymphomas. Chemotherapy, one of the most common treatment methods, is effective, but is not without the risk of toxic, potentially life-threatening side effects such as damage to the heart and bone marrow suppression.
Shasqi has spent years researching methods to reduce systemic toxicity while also maintaining the efficacy of treating solid tumors. Preclinical studies of their novel drug show major inhibition of tumor growth, an improved immune system, prolonged survival and reduced toxic side effects compared to traditional therapies. Shasqi has opened an investigational new drug application to the Food and Drug Administration and will begin a Phase 1, first-in-human clinical trial to test the safety, tolerability and efficacy in treating patients with metastatic solid tumors.
The discovery of innovative therapies to treat cancer without poisoning the human body will enable cancer patients all over the world to have an improved quality of life during and after treatment and potentially live many more healthy years on this earth. This project is part of the federally mandated Small Business Innovation Research program.