A research team led by Dr. Milan Vrábel at the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the CAS (IOCB Prague) has developed a new generation of prodrug activators that enable faster and more precise release of drugs directly at the target site – such as in tumor tissue. This breakthrough could significantly improve the treatment of serious diseases, including cancer.
While conventional activators release the drug slowly and only partially, the new system achieves nearly 100% activation within just 30 minutes. The results, published in two studies in the prestigious journal Angewandte Chemie, demonstrate high efficiency in cell-based experiments.
The technology has already completed the first phase of clinical testing and shows strong potential for improving targeted therapies with fewer side effects. The research was supported by both European and national funding, including the CarDia (EXCELES) and NETPHARM projects.
Original articles:
https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202411713
https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202411707
Press release and video (in Czech):