News

Turkish Healthcare Startup RS Research Uses Nanotech To Selectively Destroy Tumors

The startup designed a nanotechnology platform for highly targeted delivery of drugs directly to cancer cells.

Published

3 years ago

June 17, 2021

Joanna Melki

turkish healthcare startup rs research uses nanotech to selectively destroy tumors

Unsplash

All currently available types of treatment for cancer leave a lot to be desired — both in terms of their effectiveness and side effects. Chemotherapy, for example, is effective at preventing cancer from spreading to other parts of the body and even capable of eliminating it entirely, but it can’t tell the difference between cancer cells and healthy cells. Turkish healthcare startup RS Research strongly believes that it has the recipe for significantly increasing the effectiveness of drug-based cancer treatments like chemotherapy.

The startup designed a nanotechnology platform for highly targeted delivery of drugs directly to cancer cells. The platform is called Sagitta, and the name comes from the Latin word for “arrow.”

“Sagitta platform is a groundbreaking technology approach utilizing Polymer Drug Conjugates to target the tumor with a high payload of cytotoxins; resulting in high efficacy with reduced side-effect profile. In addition to moving our own candidates through clinical development, Sagitta platform is available for co-development projects,” explains RS Research on its website.

In other words, Sagitta allows drugs to do their job with minimal side effects, making it possible to avoid causing damage to healthy cells. If everything goes right, the technology could be used to support cancer treatment in Turkey and beyond as early as 2024.

Also Read: FDA Approves Israeli Cancer-Freezing Technology

Together with other innovative cancer treatments, such as gene therapy, hormone replacement therapy, and immunotherapy, scientists and doctors are gradually expanding the range of treatment options available to cancer patients, and we can only hope that a real cure isn’t too far away.

Not too long ago, the FDA approved an Israeli medical technology after demonstrating its ability to eliminate tumors using new cancer-freezing technology.

The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly accelerated many areas of medical research, and it would be a welcome turn of events if some coronavirus-related findings helped finally defeat cancer.

News

NASA Forms New Partnership With Saudi Space Agency

The pair will collaborate on the Center for Space Futures, advancing space tech by bringing together public and private stakeholders.

Published

2 days ago

May 16, 2024

Nour Nasir

Saudi Space Agency

Saudi Arabia’s space industry is on the brink of substantial expansion after generating $400 million in revenue in 2022, according to a report by the Saudi Communications, Space and Technology Commission.

Now, in a new venture with NASA, plans for a “Center for Space Futures” are set to further drive the Kingdom’s aspirations of becoming a leading player in space exploration and technology.

Capturing moments from the joint delegation visit with leaders from the Saudi and American Space Agencies @NASA to @PSU_RUH, along with scenes showcasing the audience's engagement. pic.twitter.com/oB1cFTiRNl

— وكالة الفضاء السعودية (@saudispace) May 14, 2024

The partnership between NASA and Saudi Arabia goes beyond economic advantages. The pair have already cooperated on preliminary work for the Artemis II lunar mission, which is slated for a September 2025 launch and aims to land astronauts near the moon’s South Pole.

Also Read: Plans Underway For Massive Middle East Autonomous Freight Network

During a visit to the capital, Riyadh, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson emphasized in a TV interview the broader objectives of the collaboration, which encompass “returning to the moon and then [to] Mars” while utilizing space exploration to glean important insights into climate change. The NASA spokesman also reiterated the space agency’s dedication to collaborating with Saudi Arabia on other future ventures.