TAKOMA PARK, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--US Medical Innovations, LLC (USMI) announced today that its parent company, US Patent Innovations, LLC (USPI), announced today that USPI has signed a $5.3 million sponsored research agreement with the George Washington University (GW) in Washington, D.C. Under the agreement, USPI will fund a new plasma-based cancer (PBC) therapy program for USMI’s development of biomedical applications for plasma technology, particularly in the treatment of cancer.
The newly-funded program will expand the collaboration between Jerome Canady, M.D. Chief Science Officer of the Jerome Canady Research Institute for Advanced Biological and Technological Sciences (JCRI-ABTS), Chairman of the board of managers at USPI and Dr. Michael Keidar, the A. James Clark Professor of Engineering in GW’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.
Canady, Keidar, consulting scientists and other subsidiaries of USPI will explore potential applications for cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) in the treatment of cancer.
Plasma medicine is a new and rapidly-emerging field of research with the use of plasma in cancer treatment being one of the most promising applications. To date, the remarkable anti-cancer capacity of CAP has been demonstrated using dozens of cancer cell lines, both in vitro and in vivo. The effect of CAP on numerous types of cancer including brain cancer, skin cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, cervical cancer, leukemia, head and neck cancer, and hepatoma have been intensively investigated.
The use of CAP-based instruments has already shown promise in the treatment of cancer. In January 2017, Rush University Medical surgical team led by Dr. Keith Millikan successfully used the Canady HeliosTM Cold Plasma Scalpel (CHCPS) to selectively kill cancerous tissue during a two-stage liver resection for advanced inoperable liver cancer. The innovative technology allowed the surgical removal of the cancerous tissue without damaging the blood supply to the remaining liver.
“Aside from being the largest corporate research agreement in GW’s history, this agreement is significant for other reasons," said Thomas Russo, GW’s assistant vice president for industry and corporate research. “It is a prime example of interdisciplinary research where an engineer has created technology with transformative applications in the field of medicine. We look forward to a long and productive partnership with Dr. Canady and his team."
Commenting on the agreement, Dr. Canady co-director of the plasma cancer program said, "This exciting development enhances our previous collaborative agreements with GW. Alongside the Canady Plasma® and Canady Hybrid PlasmaTM lines of products already in distribution by USPI's subsidiary, US Medical Innovations, LLC (USMI), the resulting research will provide a bridge for new product development and may transform the way cancer is treated in the future."
"GW is a leader in developing the use of plasma in cancer therapy. This continuing partnership with USPI only improves our ability to advance research in this field,” said Dr. Keidar, the director of the new plasma cancer program. “This program will combine engineering and cancer biology science to further develop this novel technique and explore the underlying mechanisms of cold active plasma selectivity."
JCRI-ABTS and USMI will apply for FDA Investigational Device Exemption to start a clinical trial on the Canady HeliosTM Cold Plasma Device for the treatment of cancer in the 4th quarter of 2017
About US Medical Innovations, LLC
US Medical Innovations, LLC (USMI) is a private U.S. biomedical device company and wholly-owned subsidiary of US Patent Innovations, LLC, a private investment company. USMI’s focus is developing advanced innovative affordable plasma and robotic electrosurgical devices and striving to develop innovative devices in the field of plasma technology for the eradication of cancer.
