Hayadan
A researcher at the Hebrew University has developed a method for non-invasive treatment of diseases by transporting medicine to an infected area. With the help of an innovative conduction system - the so-called Ethosome - new non-invasive treatments are now being developed to cure diseases such as skin cancer, deep skin infections (viral and microbial) and even problems with sexual function.
The Ethosome was developed under the leadership of Alka Toito, a professor from the School of Pharmacy at the Hebrew University, together with a group of students and postdoctoral fellows who are researching the therapeutic applications made possible by the technology.
The technological breakthrough is protected by patents and has received international recognition. For the development, Prof. Toito received the Kay Award for innovative developments at a ceremony held this month as part of the 69th session of the Board of Trustees of the Hebrew University.
The human skin is an effective barrier to the entry of drugs into and through it and therefore prevents the healing of diseases that occur in the deep layers of the skin. For example, anti-cancer drugs that are administered topically on the skin are not effective because they do not penetrate the skin and the malignant tissue.
Ethosomes are tiny fat bubbles which, thanks to their unique structure, can overcome the natural skin barrier and allow drugs to pass through. The Ethosome can be used not only to increase skin penetration, but also to absorb drugs into the systemic blood system. A prominent advantage of the technology is its ability to serve as a basis for the design of a large number of new medicinal preparations as well as preparations for cosmetic treatment.
"It is a dermatological transportation system that overcomes the natural limitations of the skin," says Prof. Toito. "A drug designed on the basis of Ethosome can penetrate beyond the layers of the skin and reach the cancer cells; A preparation that will be developed on this basis will be an effective alternative to the surgical intervention used today."
A comparative study that examined existing dermatological preparations against Ethosome's technology proved the superiority of the innovative carrier both in effectiveness and in the absence of side effects. The effectiveness has also been proven in clinical trials conducted on humans, including one that tested the use of Ethosome to treat sexual dysfunction.
NTT (Novel Therapeutic Technologies) was established by private entrepreneurs in collaboration with the Hebrew University's R&D implementation company, with the aim of developing products and marketing the Ethosome technology to the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries worldwide. The company has already succeeded in developing and marketing luxury cosmetic products to Europe, Japan and the USA.
The Kay Awards ceremony has been held every year since 1994. Yitzhak Kay from England, a prominent industrialist in the pharmaceutical industry, founded the practice of awarding awards to encourage university faculty and students to develop innovative methods with commercial potential that will benefit the university and society.
https://www.hayadan.org.il/BuildaGate4/general2/data_card.php?Cat=~~~504479284~~~228&SiteName=hayadan
