Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ENDOWAVE (ENDObronchial microWAVE Ablation for the minimally invasive treatment of lung cancer)
Reporting period: 2019-11-01 to 2020-02-29
Surgery is recognised as the gold standard curative treatment, but it is invasive with long recovery times and expensive to deliver. ENDOWAVE, with funding support through H2020, are developing a minimally invasive treatment for early stage lung cancer that will both improve patient outcomes and reduce treatment costs.
The ENDOWAVE system uses microwave energy, that is delivered using a long and flexible catheter through the patient’s airway directly into the target tumour. Microwaves are emitted from an antenna located at the distal tip of the catheter to heat the lesion and the diseased tissue, whilst sparing surrounding healthy lung. This approach is less invasive and expensive than surgery, and is well suited for treatment of early stage tumours.
The overall objective is to bring ENDOWAVE’s pioneering technology to patients. This will require significant investment to complete product development work, conduct clinical trailing and obtain approvals for market launch.
The pioneering ENDOWAVE technology includes an advanced antenna design, which is small enough to be navigated through the torturous path in lung. It also includes a micro “choke” to ensure that the ablation delivery is controlled and safe. The microwave system has been integrated into a fully flexible catheter, designed to ensure ease of delivery and maximize usability. During the SME Instrument project the team had further advanced this technology with significant “design for manufacture” input and from key suppliers in the microwave electronics industry.
ENDOWAVE have achieved the aim of the SME Instrument project to generate a business plan, which included a road map to commercialization, formal arrangements with suppliers, a regulatory approval strategy and a first in human clinical trial plan. The team are on course to raise investment in 2020, which will enable product development work to be completed and first in human trialing to commence.