Based on module technology, Delta-Fly Pharma’s innovative drugs target and destroy cancer cells without producing any severe side effects or damage to the immune system.

In 2015, the Japanese government introduced the Sakigake Designation System to promote R&D in healthcare, leading to an unprecedented era of innovation in pharmaceutical products, medical devices and regenerative medicines in Japan.

One particular area of interest is oncology, where biotech firm Delta-Fly Pharma has developed novel cancer treatments that are not only faster, cheaper and more efficient than traditional chemotherapy, but also have no debilitating side effects.

Using module technology, Delta-Fly Pharma has created pioneering cancer drugs that target and destroy cancer cells by gradually removing them, ensuring no major damage to the patient’s immune system.

“Based on module technology, DFP-17729, an alkaline agent that neutralizes acidity in the tumor micro-environment, is very simple and effective. It is proven scientifically that by removing acidity, you can remove the cancer cells,” explains president, Kiyoshi Eshima (PhD). “To reduce acidity in the urine, Na/K citrate, which is alkaline, is introduced. So, we took the concept and implemented it into our model.”

Since its establishment in 2010, Delta-Fly Pharma has treated a large number of cancer patients in Japan and the U.S., including patients with acute myeloid leukemia, gastric and lung cancers. Several of its new cancer drugs have entered clinical studies both domestically and overseas. In the U.S., its DFP-10917 drug for refractory and relapsed acute myeloid leukemia has reached Phase 3 trials, while DFP-14323 is set to complete Phase 2 trials in Japan for patients with stage 3-4 non-small-cell lung cancer.

Meanwhile, DFP-14927, a polymer delivery of DFP-10917 targeting patients with solid tumors and hematological cancers, and DFP-10825, an RNAi delivery for the treatment of peritoneal ovarian cancer and gastric cancer, have also entered trial phase.

“My ambition is to keep discovering and developing anti-cancer agents with our module technology,” says Prof. Eshima. “We want to expand on a global scale to be able to cure millions of patients by exporting our know-how globally.”

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