a call for donations for new clinical trials
The Flavien Foundation wishes to raise €620,000 for the trial of a new treatment against pediatric cancers.
“Hundreds of children are waiting for us. let’s go” exclaims Denis Maccario, founder of the Flavian Foundation, concluding the press conference. This Tuesday morning, the Flavien Foundation and the Scientific Center of Monaco (CSM) brought together the press and several local players for a special occasion: to present a future clinical trial aimed at reducing the suffering and sequelae of children with brain tumors. .
In 2016, the CSM began researching potential solutions in the treatment of pediatric brain cancers. The researchers’ objective is to find which molecule is the most effective in killing tumor blood vessels, without affecting healthy cells. “Do not block the development of children“explains Gilles Pages, director of research at the National Institute of Health and Medical Research. The CSM discovers that the molecule axitinib exhibits at least comparable efficacy and a more favorable potency profile than current therapies.
Penultimate step completed
In 2022, after one and a half negotiations and with the support of Prince Albert II, Nicolas André, professor of pediatric oncology and a German research team, the CSM Pfizerwho owns the molecule axitinib. The pharmaceutical giant provides (free of charge) the molecules needed for clinical trials on 36 patients, representing €50,000 in costs per child. Who will be affected by these trials? “Children who are at a therapeutic impasse, in relapse (…) following conventional treatments” announces Gilles Pages.
€620,000 needed for clinical trials
The last stage of this project is now the funding of these clinical trials, which will take place over a period of 3 years, in eight French hospitals. “The Flavien Foundation pledges €200,000 out of a total of €620,000“explains Denis Maccario. The association is now appealing to everyone’s liberality in order to reach this sum. As soon as it is obtained, clinical trials will begin. You can donate on the website of the Flavian Foundation.
To go longer:
The medicine called axitinib will be given to children in a so-called ‘metronomic’ regimen. “Metonymic therapy helps manage cancer as a chronic disease. The objective is to control and slow down its growth to stop its development. This protocol could make it possible to limit the side effects by satisfying the performance of the treatment, because it is administered at lower doses, but more frequently.” according to Dr Vincent Picco, head of the Brain Stem Cells and Tumors team at the CSM. The MEPENDAX clinical trial project will make it possible to determine the efficacy and the least resistance of metronomic administration of axitinib in combination reduced by conventional pesticides.