radiation-wave3

Avasopasem is Galera Therapeutics' radioprotector for the severe mouth ulcers of head and neck chemoradiation; its phase 3 trial met its main goal but the FDA asked for another study in 2023.

Evofosfamide was the most advanced hypoxia-activated drug, designed to kill the oxygen-starved tumour cells radiotherapy and chemotherapy miss, but it failed both of its phase 3 trials in 2015.

Nanobiotix is the Paris nanomedicine company behind NBTXR3, hafnium oxide nanoparticles injected into a tumour to make radiotherapy deposit more energy inside it.

NBTXR3 is Nanobiotix's radioenhancer: a single injection of hafnium oxide nanoparticles that makes ordinary radiotherapy hit harder inside the tumour. It carries a European CE mark for soft-tissue sarcoma and is in a phase 3 trial in head and neck cancer with Johnson and Johnson.

Nimorazole is the one hypoxic radiosensitiser in routine use: given with radiotherapy for head and neck cancer in Denmark since the DAHANCA 5 trial improved control, and tested across Europe in patients whose tumours carry a hypoxia gene signature.

Pilocarpine tablets are approved to treat the dry mouth that follows head and neck radiotherapy; they help when some gland tissue is left, at the cost of sweating and other cholinergic side effects.