NK012

NK012 is a nanoparticle drug delivery system that is used to deliver SN-38, the active metabolite of Irinotecan. It was developed by Nippon Kayaku.

Mechanism of action

NK012 is a polymer-drug conjugate that uses a polyglutamic acid (PGA) polymer to deliver SN-38. The PGA polymer is linked to SN-38 via a ester bond, which is cleaved in the body to release the active drug. The nanoparticle formulation allows for a higher concentration of the drug to be delivered to tumor cells, while reducing the exposure of healthy cells to the drug.

Clinical trials

NK012 has been tested in clinical trials for various types of cancer, including colorectal cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, and ovarian cancer. In a phase I clinical trial, NK012 showed promising results in patients with advanced solid tumors. However, in a phase II clinical trial for non-small cell lung cancer, the drug did not meet its primary endpoint of improving progression-free survival.

Side effects

The most common side effects of NK012 are neutropenia, diarrhea, and fatigue. Severe neutropenia was reported in a significant number of patients in clinical trials.

See also

• Nanomedicine
• Drug delivery
• Polymer-drug conjugate