IMGT
Novel Delivery Solution for Challenging Cancers, With Focused Ultrasound

Rapid advances in antitumor medications pave the way for new life-saving options in cancer treatment. Nevertheless, there are highly aggressive cancers that are difficult to treat, such as pancreatic tumor, which require a novel drug delivery approach.

IMGT is leading the charge in novel delivery systems with IMD10, an investigational therapeutic ultrasound device that effectively enhances the outcome of approved cancer drugs in non-invasive way.

A clinical-stage biotech specializing in focused ultrasound and nanotechnology, IMGT has a vision to unleash therapeutic potentials of focused ultrasound for the tumor delivery of cancer drugs, and systemic immune modulation. Its technique uses sonoporation, creating pores on the cell membranes by the mechanical forces of focused ultrasound, enabling deeper delivery of anti-tumor agents into the target tissue.
IMD10 utilizes the therapeutic potential of focused ultrasound for patients in difficult-to-treat cancers such as pancreas. The complex and resilient micro-environment of the pancreas resists drug penetration and requires more effective drug delivery approach.

“Our primary aim is to augment already approved cancer drugs simply by combining IMD10, to offer a cost-effective alternative for cancer patients, who are unable to afford expensive anti-cancer medications,” says Hak Jong, Lee, CEO of IMGT.

Reinventing a Therapeutic Arsenal

The development of more targeted therapies, such as antibody and genetic drugs, has proven to be more effective compared to already approved drugs. However, these newer approaches are increasingly expensive. Combined with IMGT’s proprietary therapeutic ultrasound device IMD10, existing drugs can potentially produce enhanced outcomes. These advancements may answer the spiraling costs of newer drugs and therapies.

“IMD10’s uniqueness lies in its use of non-thermal ultrasound energy for the targeted delivery of drug in oncology settings- safer and convenient for cancer patients,” says Keon Ho, Son, Chief Device officer of IMGT.

In a comparative animal study against microbubble with diagnostic ultrasound, IMGT’s device itself, without the bubble assistance, generates higher cavitation effect, enabling deeper penetration of the drug into the target tissue.

IMGT Receive Regulatory Approval in South Korea to Run Human Clinical Trial Using IMD10 Combination for Folfirinox Treatment in Pancreatic Cancer Patients

FOLFIRINOX regimen is the standard of care for pancreatic cancer, but its toxicity makes it difficult for patients to endure repeated treatments. IMGT conducted a study on animals to test the effectiveness of IMD10 with lower dosage of FOLFIRINOX, demonstrating better effects compared with chemotherapy alone. The data helped IMGT receive regulatory approval in South Korea to run human clinical trial using IMD10 combination for FOLFIRINOX treatment in Pancreatic cancer patients. The first patient of the trial had been treated in Seoul National University hospital in March 2023.
Striving to offer its ultrasound device as a platform that is applicable to all types of oncology agents, IMGT also went on to conduct animal research, demonstrating the device’s ability to improve tissue penetration of large molecules like IgG antibody. The low permeability of large molecules prevent them from realizing their full therapeutic potentials.

“With the animal proof of concept for small-, and large molecule, IMGT seeks to collaborate with partners who want to maximize therapeutic potentials of their antibody, or gene drug candidates with IMD10,” says Jung Hun, Kim, Head of business development of IMGT.

Expanding Novel Delivery Solution into Antibody and Gene Therapy

The idea for IMGT took root when Hak Jong Lee, founder and CEO, recognized the immense possibilities of imageguided therapy. A renowned radiologist from Seoul National University, Lee’s experience in interventional radiology spurred his vision to provide a better alternative using image-guided therapy.

To support this vision, Lee built an expert leadership team of ultrasound device, and nanoparticle technology.

In line with IMGT’s broader vision, its novel drug delivery solution helped lay the concept for IMP301, an ultrasound-sensitive liposomal drug carrier for the targeted release of chemo agent. Leveraging the therapeutic ultrasound and nanoparticle, the patented liposome IMP301 loads the chemo agent and releases it sensitively by focused ultrasound. In animal models, IMP301 modality exhibits a stronger antitumor effect in pancreatic and breast tumors, compared with standard of care chemo agents.

The first-ever focused ultrasound application for treating pancreatic cancer, using sonoporation effect, IMD10 is in its clinical trial stage, and the targeted drug liposome IMP301 will soon to be in a clinical stage.
IMGT continues to expand its capabilities by developing a next-generation bubble agent carrying genetic materials. Its goal here is to provide a better alternative to the microbubble, which is short-acting and unstable. In addition, microbubbles cannot penetrate into the tumor because of their relatively large size. To solve this, IMGT is developing a nano-sized, stable bubble, which will allow the maximization of cavitation together with its IMD10. Especially, targeted delivery modality of genetic material by IMGT’s nano bubble is expected to significantly lower down the development cost of viral vector based gene therapy.

IMD10’s ability to improve the delivery of small- and large-molecule drugs for more effective treatment outcome is a rare and much-needed innovation in oncology. IMGT’s focus on this novel and cost-effective delivery system makes it a reliable and trusted partner for patients, and companies looking to enhance treatment outcomes for challenging cancers.