Case Study
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Radiation exposure incurred during space exploration is one of the greatest threats to an astronaut’s health. That’s because the radiation environment outside of Earth’s protective atmosphere is comprised of high-energy particles that pose a hazard to living organisms.
Promisingly, researchers from the University of Adelaide and the South Australian immunoGENonmics Cancer Institute (SAiGENCI) have now developed a pill that offers critical protection from the immediate and lasting impacts of radiation.
With the support of an Australia’s Economic Accelerator (AEA) Seed grant, the project team is working with industry partners to progress the pill, SAi001, to human clinical trials, regulatory approvals and commercial production.
Project Lead Entrepreneur Dr Agnieszka Kumorkiewicz-Jamro says extensive pre-clinical pharmaceutical studies of the pill have demonstrated promising results, with potential uses for the space, defence and mining industries, and for cancer treatment.
“Current treatments primarily focus on post-exposure mitigation of bone marrow damage and offer no protection for other critical systems, such as the lungs, heart, skin, central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract,” Dr Kumorkiewicz-Jamro says.
“These gaps highlight the need for a comprehensive approach that addresses the full spectrum of radiation-induced damage, ensuring broader protective effects for individuals exposed to high levels of radiation, such as military personnel, astronauts, or patients undergoing radiation therapy.”
The project team is working with industry partners Ab Initio Pharma Pty Ltd, DMTC Ltd and Axiom Space Inc on advancing SAi001 studies from the animal phase to the human phase while simultaneously developing manufacturing processes to allow for rapid commercialisation.
Dr Kumorkiewicz-Jamro says their collaboration with Ab Initio Pharma opens the door to cutting-edge Good Manufacturing Practices drug manufacturing technologies that are typically unavailable in academic environments.
“This partnership is essential for advancing our research and bringing it closer to commercialisation. Additionally, working with industry allows me to expand my professional expertise, gaining valuable insights into product development, regulatory frameworks and industry best practices, all of which are crucial for driving future scientific achievements.”
Ab Initio Pharma Chief Operating Officer Will Glover said his company is proud to play a pivotal role in the formulation and manufacturing of SAi001.
“Leveraging cutting-edge technology such as spray and freeze drying, our team ensures the precise production of high-quality pharmaceutical formulations, meeting stringent requirements for clinical trials,” Mr Glover says.
“This includes refining processes to optimise the stability and bioavailability of SAi001, supporting its efficacy as a broad-spectrum radiation protectant.”
The plant-derived active pharmaceutical ingredient of SAi001 exhibits radiation protection effects while also having anti-tumour and anti-inflammatory activities.
Additionally, SAi001 is easy to administer, has a long shelf life of over 2 years, and retains its effectiveness in biological assays for more than 10 years, making it an ideal candidate for space missions.
Dr Kumorkiewicz-Jamro says the SAi001 drug also offers critical protection for military personnel exposed to the immediate and lasting impacts of radiation, reducing risks of mortality and long-term health issues.
It equips Australian Defence Force personnel to function effectively in environments with radiation, and nuclear threats and contribute to the ADF’s chemical, biological, radiation and nuclear program.
The AEA funding provides a strategic investment in establishing advanced sovereign manufacturing capabilities for SAi001 in Australia, prioritising defence and space personnel as the end users.
“The funding is supporting drug stockpiling for pre-clinical trials and moving manufacturing to the next stage, ultimately progressing toward full-scale production and regulatory approval as a radiation protectant,” Dr Kumorkiewicz-Jamro says.
Dr Kumorkiewicz-Jamro works as part of a cross-disciplinary team that includes Professor Christopher Sweeney, Professor Chunxia Zhao, Dr Katherine Morel, Dr Luis Toronjo-Urquiza and Anne Donaldson.
Their research is part of a university-wide collaboration called The Daisy Project, a multi-stage initiative aiming to accelerate the journey of this vital drug to market. It builds on extensive previous research by Professor Sweeney into plant-based pharmaceuticals, alongside ongoing development efforts supported by the Defence Innovation Partnership.
Another focus for the team is a second drug called SAi002, which is predicted to be a ground-breaking cancer treatment that could help patients with metastatic cancers, including breast, prostate, and lung cancer as well as haematological cancers like lymphomas and leukemias.
As an Australian project, it also has enormous export potential. From the lab to the battlefield and all the way to Mars, this innovative medical breakthrough shows incredible promise.
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