A patent covering a technology aimed at improving the oral bioavailability of cancer drugs has been licensed by GlaxoSmithKline.

The patent application has been licensed from Cancer Research Technology UK, acting on behalf of the Netherlands National Cancer Institute.

The patent (WO 00/69390 ) was initially filed by the NCI and is based upon the work of Professor Jan Schellens and Dr Alfred Schinkel. They showed that inhibition of a transporter protein from the family of transporters containing known multi-drug resistance proteins, could also be targeted to enhance the uptake of oncology drugs such as topotecan (marketed by GSK as Hycamtin for a range of solid tumours) when orally administered.

Topotecan is currently administered as a 30-minute intravenous infusion, given once-daily for five days.

CRT stated that it was happy to act as a conduit for the development of this important finding and hopes the patent's technology will eventually bring benefit to cancer patients worldwide. The company initially undertook to cover the costs of the patent prosecution while the technology was being developed and looked for a suitable commercial licensee. The terms of the agreement with GSK have not been disclosed.