5-aminolevulinic acid + artesunate

JLP Health is developing a combination therapy for the treatment of glioblastoma, consisting of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) and artesunate. The therapy utilizes a novel drug-device combination approach where 5-ALA is delivered locally via a biodegradable brain implant placed in the resection cavity immediately following surgery. Artesunate, a natural compound-derived antimalarial drug, is administered orally. The mechanism of action involves 5-ALA driving flux through the heme biosynthesis pathway, which increases heme metabolism in tumor cells. This metabolic shift activates artesunate to induce tumor cell death. This strategy is designed to bridge the post-surgical treatment gap and has demonstrated antineoplastic activity in preclinical models, including glioblastoma organoids and orthotopic xenografts.

Other names

5-ALA + artesunate