Six patients in Kazakhstan taking part in testing of a cancer treatment drug developed by local scientists have experienced a slowdown in tumor growth, and one had the tumor shrink. Vice-President of the Kazakh National Academy of Sciences Dos Sarbassov revealed the results of the initial phases of the drug trial.
«After the first drug intake, the conditions of 15 cancer patients stabilized, and the tumors of six of them stopped growing. Currently, the patients are receiving an increased dose of the drug, as health specialists have confirmed the absence of toxicity,» Sarbassov explained.
According to him, the drug was put into clinical trials two years ago. Two phases of the trial have been conducted so far.
«We target the cancer cells that absorb glucose. Our patent is international. The stabilization effect has been observed in the control group. The tumor hasn’t grown, and in one patient, it has shrunk by 30%. We need to complete the project within the next two or three years,» Sarbassov highlighted.
The cancer treatment drug testing is conducted at the Kazakh Institute of Oncology and Radiology.
In November, Kursiv.media reported that researchers from the National Laboratory Astana and the Kazakh Institute of Oncology and Radiology in Almaty were working to determine a tolerable dose of the experimental DVC drug. To do this, the scientists selected cancer patients who met specific criteria, and they are now administering the drug in maximum doses, with a total of 36 injections.
As reported earlier this year, Kazakhstan’s cancer drug will be tested on 5,000 patients between 2027 and 2029, provided the early-stage testing proves successful. According to Science Minister Sayasat Nurbek, the government has allocated about $4 million for the current stage of research.
