Gold Medal at Prestigious 5th Asia Exhibition of Innovations & Inventions Hong Kong for Groundbreaking Cancer Therapy

ACE NanoMed, a biotechnology pioneer in precision oncology, announced today that the innovative project, “Aptamers for Targeted Delivery of Chemodrugs to Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma,” led by Professor Anna Tsang and Professor Lo Kwok Wai has been honored with a Gold Medal at the 5th Asia Exhibition of Innovations and Inventions Hong Kong (AEII). This esteemed accolade recognizes the project’s exceptional novelty, scientific merit, and significant potential to transform cancer treatment.

The award-winning invention introduces a novel targeted therapy for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-driven Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC), a prevalent cancer in Asia. The ACE NanoMed team has engineered specialized DNA aptamers that function as precision-guided molecular vehicles. These aptamers selectively bind to oncogenic proteins uniquely expressed on EBV+ NPC cells and are rapidly internalized.

The core innovation lies in the Aptamer-Drug Conjugate (ApDC) platform. This system attaches conventional chemotherapeutics, such as 5-fluorouracil (5FU), directly to the tumor-homing aptamers, creating a smart, precision delivery mechanism. It directly addresses the major drawbacks of traditional systemic chemotherapy: nonspecific toxicity and severe side effects that damage healthy tissues.

In vivo studies underscore the transformative potential of this approach. Results demonstrated that a dose of 5FU ten times lower than traditional methods achieved effective tumor suppression when delivered via the ApDC system. This remarkable efficacy with minimal dosage signifies a paradigm shift towards highly effective, targeted chemotherapy with drastically reduced off-target toxicity.

“We are deeply honored to see the project receiving the Gold Medal from the AEII,” said Professor Anna Tsang. “This recognition validates our commitment to redefining cancer therapy. Our ApDC platform is designed to turn potent chemotherapeutics into precise weapons, maximizing their impact on the tumor while sparing the patient. For NPC patients, this offers the promise of a new standard of care – one that is both more effective and more tolerable.”

The ApDC platform represents a versatile technology with potential applications beyond NPC, paving the way for a new generation of targeted therapies for various cancers.