Projects financed by the Hungarian National Research, Development and Innovation Office

Improving the efficiency of the electromagnetic tumour therapy device and the preparation for its integration into commercial use

Beneficiary Name: Oncotherm Kft. and Semmelweis University

Title of the project: „Improving the efficiency of the electromagnetic tumour therapy device and the preparation for its integration into commercial use”

Amount of contracted support: 1,472 billion forints

Support rate: 88.94%

Projected completion date : 31.12.2019

Project ID number : NVKP_16-1-2016-0042

The tender “Improving the efficiency of the electromagnetic tumour therapy device and the preparation for its integration into commercial use” lead by Semmelweis University received a grant of 1.472 billion forints as part of the Hungarian Competitiveness and Excellence Programme launched in 2016. The programme promotes and supports projects that contribute to the more efficient treatment of endemic diseases by R&D&I developments.
The project is realised in a consortium of Semmelweis University and Oncotherm Kft, which has taken part in the development of oncothermia, a new therapeutic method. The method is based on the in situ radio frequency modulation of cells which triggers responses that locally inhibit tumour growth and trigger tumour specific immune reactions by causing immunogenic cell death. As a result of immunogenic cell death the treatment applied on the primary tumour may be converted into a systemic antitumour process, which may prevent metastasis or enable the therapeutic control of the existing metastases.

"The method is already in use in clinical practice as an adjuvant therapy. The research aims to increase the efficiency of the method.”, said Dr. Zoltán Benyó, Director of the Institute of Clinical Experimental Research and project leader.The program is based on preclinical and clinical studies and is completed by device development.

The preclinical module is coordinated by the Institute of Clinical Experimental Research where the local and systemic effects of the oncothermia therapy are studied on animal models and the processes behind these effects are analysed on the levels of cells, organs and the organism. The main objectives are the identification and the understanding of processes of tumour immunology and angiogenesis on a molecular level. These processes could be manipulated by oncothermia therapy, which could enable the clinical application of the method in the therapy of cancerous diseases of great prevalence and poor prognosis (eg. mammary carcinoma, melanoma, glioblastoma).

Research of the clinical module takes place in the Centre of Oncology, lead by Dr. Magdolna Dank, Director. A substantial number of patients with pancreatic cancer have already been involved in the studies and received treatment by the oncothermia device with promising preliminary results. The objective is to develop therapeutic recommendations which will serve as a basis for determining the target group and therapeutic protocol of oncothermia therapy.

Based on the results gained from preclinical testing and experiences from the clinical module the industrial partner will further develop the device, thus creating a machine that satisfies real market needs. One of the greatest achievements of the cooperation is Oncotherm Kft.’s commitment to create an international exhibition and training center at Semmelweis University.

The programme supported by the National Research, Development and Innovation Office involves nearly 30 researchers and their assistants. The cooperation of the consortium partners is an excellent example of the realisation of research and a practical, marketable product.

Source: Institute of Clinical Experimental Research
Photo: Attila Kovács – Semmelweis University
Translation: Ágnes Raubinek

Events financed from the NRDI Fund

Journals and publications financed from NRDI the Fund

Publications

Szasz AM, Minnaar CA, Szentmartoni Gy, et al. (2019) Review of the clinical evidences of modulated electro-hyperthermia (mEHT) method: an update for the practicing oncologist, Frontiers in Oncology, Vol. 9, Article 1012, pp. 1-8.
Szigeti Gy, Szasz A. (2019) Fluctuations hypothesize the new explanation of meridians in living systems, Open Journal of Biophysics, 9:51-69.
Szasz A. (2019) Thermal and nonthermal effects of radiofrequency on living state and applications as an adjuvant with radiation therapy, J Radiat Cancer Res 2019;10:1-17.
Fiorentini G, Sarti D, Casadei V, et al. (2019) Modulated electro-hyperthermia (mEHT) (oncothermia) protocols as complementary treatment, Oncothermia Journal 25:85-115.
Szasz O, Sziget GP, Szasz A. (2019) The intrinsic self-time of biosystems, Open J Biophysics, 2019, 9, 131-145
Szasz O. (2019) Biolectromagnetic paradigm of cancer treatment – Modulated electro-hyperthermia (mEHT), Open J Biophysics, 2019, 9, 98-109.
Vincze G, Szasz A. (2019) New look at an old principle: An alternative formulation of the theorem of minimum entropy production, J Advances in Physics, 16:508-517.

The development of manufacturing processes, and the market introduction of the EHY-4000 oncology device prototype

Beneficiary Name: Oncotherm Kft.

Title of the project: „The development of manufacturing processes, and the market introduction of the EHY-4000 oncology device prototype ”

Amount of contracted support: 411.424.455 HUF

Support rate: 69.98%

Projected completion date: 2022.12.31.

Project ID number: 2019-1.1.1-PIACI-KFI-2019-00011

“According to the decision of the Hungarian National Research, Development and Innovation Office on the 12th of December, 2019, Oncotherm has received a grant of 411,4M HUF for the final development of the EHY-4000 oncology device.

The aim of our tender is the production transfer and market introduction of the oncological treatment equipment prototype designed in the framework of NVKP_16-1-2016-0042 project, including the finalization and verification of the prototype, the transfer of the device into production, the validation of the device and the acquisition of the regulatory permits necessary for market introduction.

The new EHY-4000 prototype is designed with new, unique features on the market that will be able to provide personalized treatment at a higher level and will incorporate the research results of the project mentioned above and the rapidly evolving immuno-oncology results, taking the utmost convenience of the users and patients into account.

We intend to sell our new device through our existing, but extended distributor network that covers 35 countries. This process would not only allow an extensive market expansion but is expected to be very popular among intense, existing Oncothermia users (over 450 installed devices worldwide). However, the main economic benefit is to increase the number of healing patients, even when no other conventional method can be of help. With this project, we aim to show a serious moral, human-ethical indicator for the Hungarian medical instrument industry.”

Events financed from the NRDI Fund

ASHO 2021
ESTRO 2021
ICHS 2021
Russian Health Care Week 2021
Medica 2022

Journals and publications financed from NRDI the Fund

Oncothermia Journal Volume Special Edition
Oncothermia Journal Volume 28.
Oncothermia Journal Volume 29.
Oncothermia Journal Volume 30.
Oncothermia Journal Volume 31.
Oncothermia Journal Volume 32.

Publications

Szasz O, Szasz AM, Szigeti GP, Szasz A. (2020) Data mining and evaluation of single arm clinical studies, in book: Recent developments in engineering research, Vol. 3. ed. by Dr. Yong X. Gan
Szigeti GP, Szasz AM, Szasz A. (2020) The growth of healthy and cancerous tissues, Open Journal of Biophysics, 10(3), 113-128
Szasz A. (2021) Bio-Electromagnetics without Fields: The Effect of the Vector Potential, Open Journal of Biophysics, 2021, 11, p205-224
Szasz A. (2021) Vascular Fractality and Alimentation of Cancer, International Journal of Clinical Medicin, 2021, 12, p279-296
Szasz A. (2021) Therapeutic Basis of Electromagnetic Resonances and Signal-Modulation, Open Journal of Biophysics, 2021, 11, p314-350
Szasz A. (2021) The Capacitive Coupling Modalities for Oncological Hyperthermia, Open Journal of Biophysics, 2021, 11, p252-313
Szasz A. (2021) Allometric Scaling by the Length of the Circulatory Network, Open Journal of Biophysics, 2021, 11, p359-370
Szasz A. (2022) Time-Fractal in Living Objects, Open Journal of Biophysics, 2022, 12, p1-26
Szasz A. (2022) Time-fractal modulation – Possible modulation effects in human therapy, Open Journal of Biophysics, 12, p38-87
Szasz A. (2022) Cancer specific resonances, Open Journal of Biophysics, 12, p185-222
Szasz A. (2022) Heterogeneous heat absorption is complementary to radiotherapy, Cancers, 14, p901
Szasz A. (2022) Stimulation and control of homeostasis, Open Journal of Biophysics, 12, p89-131
Minnaar CA, Szasz A. (2022) Forcing the antitumor effects of HSPs using a modulated electric field, Cells, 11, p18-38