Korea develops world`s first cancer pill

Dr. Yoo Sung-Eun's Bio-Organic Science Division of the Korean Research Institute of Chemical Technology(KRICT) and Hanmi Pharmaceutical have succeeded in the development of a method of transforming the latest cancer medication Paclitoxel, which is highly effective, into a pill form for oral consumption. The announcement Wednesday marks a first in the world.

Taxol is found in the barks of the yew tree, and it combines with the cancer cells and prevents the cells for dividing. In 1992, U.S. company Bristol-Myers developed Taxol, which is an injection form of Paclitaxel. However, as the liquid agent, which is necessary to dissolve the Paclitaxel, is highly toxic and might cause shock to the recipient, limiting its wide use.

The oral form of Paclitaxel had been difficult to use, as it did not dissolve easily in water and the P-glycoprotein lining in people's stomachs blocked the Paclitoxel from entering the body beyond the stomach lining.

Yoo's team, which had been researching a chemical agent to treat high blood pressure, happened upon a new chemical material ¡®Indane derivatives¡¯ that suppressed the blocking by the P-glycoprotein of the stomach wall. As the world's second successful utilization of Paclitoxel, the team sold the rights to the process to Hanmi Pharmaceutical for 10 billion won.

Hanmi Pharmaceutical succeeded in transforming the mixture of Paclitaxel and Indane derivatives into a water-soluble form. "In a laboratory animal testing with rats, the oral form of the agent was found to be highly effective," Yoo said. "Especially, there were not side effects or cancer cell tolerance discovered."

Hanmi Pharmaceutical will invest an additional 2 billion won and will have the oral form of the Paclitoxel, marketed as Oraxol, out by 2002.