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Publication Date: November 20, 2024 Published By: LA Business First Article Link: https://www.bizjournals.com/losangeles/news/2024/11/20/innovative-strategy-neoncs-bold-move-in-biotech.html
Amir F. Heshmatpour and Dr. Thomas Chen
Thanks to the incredible medical innovation seen in the last decade or so, biotech companies are proliferating like never before. Several major biotech company in recent memory has evolved in the same way. But as Amir F. Heshmatpour, executive chairman of NeOnc , can tell you, that doesn’t mean it’s the only way it can be done.
The roadmap to success is similar for most biotech companies — they begin as fledgling startups, achieve new growth and relative stability as privately held companies, and then, after extensive planning and preparation, they grow and expand through strategic initiatives.
NeOnc, a biotechnology company founded by University of Southern California Director of Surgical Neuro-Oncology Dr. Thomas Chen, has developed a unique intranasal delivery system for drugs meant to treat brain cancer.
Historically, the blood-brain barrier has made it difficult or impossible for treatments that are injected or taken orally to reach the brain. However, because NeOnc’s system bypasses the blood-brain barrier, Chen said treatments can reach the brain more effectively, leading to improved outcomes.
The intranasal brain delivery system, which is in phase II clinical trials, is already helping patients whose tumors had previously stopped responding to treatment. Initially, the trials only included patients with grade 4 astrocytomas — primary tumors with the highest malignancy.
“This drug was working so well, Dr. Chen went to the FDA and asked if we could enroll grade 3 astrocytoma patients as well,” says Heshmatpour. “The FDA said ‘yes.’ Our results are extending life much further than anyone anticipated.”
In the midst of this unexpected level of success, NeOnc remains committed to its mission.
Standing on the foundation of Chen’s research, innovation and collaboration, Heshmatpour and the NeOnc team look toward tomorrow with renewed purpose and vision. “Together, we’re building a future where science meets hope and every step forward brings us closer to breakthroughs that will change lives,” Heshmatpour emphasizes.
Heshmatpour continued, “Our goal is to ensure the best possible outcome for the families and their loved ones in our clinical trials, as well as for our shareholders, the company and all stakeholders involved.”
The delivery system’s success in clinical trials is understandably grabbing the attention of people both in the medical field and outside of it.
NeOnc’s intranasal delivery system is advanced, yet the concept is easy to grasp; a technology that’s already helping treat previously untreatable brain tumors is valuable — both in terms of generating benefits for humanity and potential commercial success.
The dedication and resilience of the NeOnc team showcase a unique approach in biotech. With a mission to improve outcomes for brain cancer patients and a foundation in groundbreaking research, NeOnc is paving the way for transformative progress in medicine.
“We’ve taken a totally different path and we feel very, very confident that this is the way we should have done it,” says Heshmatpour. “We’re creating our own path. We’re driving our own destiny.”