Continuity Biosciences Initiates First-in-Human Trial of Iontophoretic Drug Delivery Platform for Pancreatic Cancer
Key Insights
Continuity Biosciences (search) has launched a Phase I clinical trial evaluating gemcitabine delivered via its iontophoretic oncology platform (IOP) for pancreatic cancer (search) treatment.
The proprietary IOP platform aims to enable localized, controlled delivery of therapeutics directly into pancreatic tumors while minimizing systemic toxicity.
The study is now enrolling patients at leading academic medical centers including West Virginia University and University of Michigan.
Continuity Biosciences (search), a clinical-stage biotechnology company, has announced the initiation of a Phase I, first-in-human clinical trial evaluating gemcitabine delivered through its iontophoretic oncology platform (IOP) for pancreatic cancer (search) treatment. The study, registered as NCT07481383 on ClinicalTrials.gov, is now open for enrollment at leading academic medical centers including WVU Medicine J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital and Taubman Center University of Michigan Medicine.
Novel Drug Delivery Platform Addresses Critical Treatment Barriers
The proprietary IOP platform is designed to enable localized, controlled delivery of therapeutics directly into pancreatic tumors, addressing longstanding challenges in drug penetration and systemic toxicity that have limited conventional treatment effectiveness. By increasing intratumoral drug concentration while minimizing systemic exposure, the platform aims to support more effective use of both existing and emerging oncology therapies.
"This first-in-human study represents an important milestone in our mission to transform how therapies are delivered to solid tumors," said Ramakrishna "Krishna" Venugopalan, Chief Executive Officer of Continuity Biosciences (search). "By enabling precise, localized delivery, we believe our platform has the potential to enhance the effectiveness of existing therapies and serve as a foundation for combination treatment approaches across multiple tumor types."
Addressing Urgent Medical Need in Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancer (search) remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality, with five-year survival rates remaining in the low double digits. Despite advances in systemic therapies, effective drug delivery to pancreatic tumors continues to be a major barrier to improved outcomes.
"Pancreatic cancer (search) remains one of the most difficult cancers to treat, and patients urgently need better options," said Jen Jen Yeh, MD, Director of the Pancreatic Cancer Center of Excellence at the University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center (search). "Approaches that effectively deliver therapy precisely to the tumor while sparing the rest of the body could meaningfully change outcomes for patients."
Clinical Investigators Highlight Treatment Potential
Principal investigators at the participating centers emphasized the potential clinical significance of the targeted delivery approach. "This trial is a critical step toward safer, more effective delivery of gemcitabine for pancreatic cancer (search) patients," said Brian Boone, M.D., surgical oncologist at the WVU Cancer Institute (search) and principal investigator for the WVU Medicine trial. "By targeting therapy directly to the tumor, we hope to improve outcomes while reducing the side effects that so often limit treatment in advanced disease."
Dr. Benjamin Ferguson, M.D., PhD, Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery and surgical oncologist at the University of Michigan Medical Center, noted the fundamental challenge the platform aims to address: "One of the central challenges in treating pancreatic cancer (search) is getting enough drug into the tumor without harming the rest of the body. This study will tell us whether targeted, localized delivery can overcome that barrier for gemcitabine and potentially open the door to better treatment strategies for patients with limited options."
Broader Platform Applications
Beyond pancreatic cancer (search), Continuity Biosciences (search) is exploring the broader applicability of its IOP platform across additional oncology settings, including localized delivery of carboplatin in oral head and neck cancers (search). The company's technologies are designed to overcome key translational barriers by improving how therapies are delivered, distributed, and sustained across a range of diseases spanning oncology, endocrinology, and beyond.