Nucapcure Approach

The standard-of-care currently available for Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients is surgical removal of the affected brain tissue, followed by a combination of radio- and chemotherapy. This non-curative treatment regimen is both physically and financially demanding for the patient and costly for global healthcare systems, giving patients an average of 15 months survival benefit. This is where NuCapCure steps in.

An interdisciplinary and radical approach to the fight against GBM

The multidisciplinary nature of NuCapCure combining the fields of nuclear physics, synthetic chemistry, biochemistry and radiobiology will take advantage of the chemical processes in diseased brain cells and cause them to get selectively destroyed under proton or neutron irradiation.

The two envisioned therapies, NuCapCure Proton and NuCapCure Neutron, combine proton radiotherapy, proton-induced PS activation, boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) and neutron-induced PS activation. The aim is for the cancer cells to prepare the chemicals, which will become the “silver bullets”, by which they will self-destruct following neutron or accelerated-proton treatments.

NuCapCure Proton: a combination of proton radiotherapy, photosensitiser (PS) proton activation and boron proton capture therapy (BPCT)

NuCapCure Neutron: a combined approach of Glioblastoma multiforme-specific PS neutron activation and boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT)

These two approaches use the tumour cell's own biosynthesis to create novel chemical compounds which when irradiated by neutrons or protons will selectively destroy the cancer cells.

This groundbreaking, revolutionary technology will protect the healthy brain tissue surrounding the tumour and can therefore be curative without major side-effects.

Two-phase testing of the therapeutic approaches: In vitro and In vivo

The two NuCapCure treatment modalities will be validated in two phases. Initially, laboratory studies will be validated and optimised in cell cultures of GBM, while the most promising drugs will be further tested in vivo on preclinical GBM animal models.

Scheme of research approach for NuCapCure Proton and NuCapCure Neutron therapies

Outlook Beyond the Project Duration

After the official end of the project in 2028, there will be an interim transition phase in which the success of the 4.5 year EIC Pathfinder phase should pave the way for an EIC Transition. Additionally, an EIC Accelerator application is envisioned to commercialise the NuCapCure results and their clinical application. In the long term, a company spin-off is intended to drive the NuCapCure therapies into the market and clinical studies on humans by attracting funding and investment capital. Ultimately, the use of proton and neutron-based NuCapCure therapies for the benefit of brain tumour patients are envisaged by around 2040.