Project description
Stomach cancer meets its match in a photoactivated oral capsule
The discovery in 2005 that almost all cases of peptic ulcer disease were caused by a previously unknown bacterial species, Helicobacter pylori, garnered the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine the same year. We now know that this bacterium is also responsible for most gastric cancers, and it is very difficult to eliminate with antibiotics. The EU-funded Capsulight project is supporting the Italian SME PROBIOMEDICA in developing a pioneering patented therapy that relies on an oral capsule and its activation by light. Compared to antibiotics' 70 % efficacy, preliminary results suggest that it is almost 100 % effective at killing the bacteria; therefore, it could be the solution that will stop stomach cancer in its tracks.
Fields of science
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologybacteriology
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacypharmaceutical drugsantibiotics
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacydrug resistanceantibiotic resistance
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicinephysiologyhomeostasis
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicinegastroenterology
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1
Coordinator
50124 Firenze
Italy
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