Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University

HKBU encompasses eight Faculties/Schools offering a range of undergraduate programmes, associate degrees and higher diploma programmes as well as taught postgraduate programmes and research postgraduate programmes leading to the award of master and doctoral degrees. It prides itself on its dual focus on teaching and research and encourages service to society among its staff and students. One of the area of strengths at HKBU is in health and wellness, where we have a world-leading School of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacology.

At TechInnovation 2021, we are presenting a series of innovations and solutions for the betterment of your health and wellness.

Our Technology Offers

Novel Drug for Cancer Diagnostics and Photodynamic Treatment

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is well-known in treating cancer where cancer cells can be safely radiated. This is especially true for cancers like skin cancer, prostate cancer and bladder cancer. However, only a few photosensitizer drugs (PD) for PDT such as Photofrin® Porfimer sodium (Photofrin®), Temoporfin (Foscan®), Motexafin lutetium, Palladium bacteriopheophorbide, Purlytin®, Verteporfin (Visudyne®), Talaporfin (Laserphyrin®) are approved by FDA or under-clinical trials.

Statistics shows that Australia has the highest prevalence of skin cancer and is estimated that 37-55% Australian are affected in the global market study on PDT. The growing prevalence of skin cancer in other countries like the US and the UK is fast and therefore it drives the revenue growth of the PDT market.

In light of large demand in PDs and unmet need for PD’s improvement in terms of cancer cell specificity, depth of light penetration and safety, the technology provider has developed a drug which is used for two-photon absorption photodynamic therapy.

The drug is porphyrin-lanthanide complexes with specific functional groups which are conjugated with carefully chosen peptides so as to increase cancer cells specificity. In-house studies showed that the drug is able to significantly kill cancer cells without attacking normal cells and can give responsive emission for diagnostics.

The technology provider has a portfolio of granted and pending patents in the US, Europe, Taiwan, China and Hong Kong. Currently, the technology provider is seeking partners to collaborate and bring this drug to the next stage of clinical trials.