Chemotherapy can save lives, but the side effects are brutal. A new targeted drug-delivery system from RenovoRx aims to change that for pancreatic cancer patients.
RenovoRx's Trans-Arterial Micro-Perfusion, or TAMP, platform uses the FDA-cleared RenovoCath catheter to deliver chemotherapy directly near the tumor instead of through the entire body. The system is currently in a Phase III clinical trial.
For 83-year-old Hernando Salcedo, the difference was dramatic. After standard chemo left him weak and nauseous, TAMP allowed him to regain his appetite, energy, and quality of life. He was even able to dance at a family wedding.
Here's how it works: a physician guides a catheter into an artery near the tumor using X-ray imaging. Two small balloons are inflated to isolate a targeted artery segment, and the chemo drug is infused between them, creating pressure that pushes it directly into the tumor.
Dr. Ripal Gandhi of Miami Cancer Institute explains that standard IV chemo delivers less than 10% of the drug to the tumor. TAMP bypasses that limitation. Initial Phase III trial data shows a trend toward improved overall survival by 6 months and progression-free survival by 8.1 months, with 65% fewer adverse events.
Enrollment is expected to be completed mid-2026, with final results in 2027. If positive, the data could support a new drug application to the FDA. RenovoRx sees potential beyond pancreatic cancer, including bile duct, lung, and sarcomas.