Medicus Pharma (TSX-V:MDCX) recently welcomed biotech veteran Huma Qamar as its new Chief Scientific Officer to head up its ambitious research and development program.
In an interview with Proactive, Qamar discusses her new role and explains her decision to join Medicus, emphasizing the company's focus on addressing unmet medical needs.
“I was part of a very novel modifier gene therapy treatment platform, overseeing three major therapeutic areas,” Qamar explained. “What prompted me to (join Medicus) was if you look at my career, oncology has been my passion. I've been part of revolutionary, life-saving treatments over the course of time for the past decade, so this was pretty close to my heart.”
What intrigued and inspired Qamar was the innovative microarray needles created by SkinJect, which was recently acquired by Medicus. The company provides minimally invasive and highly effective treatment for basal cell carcinoma, the most common cancer in the US. The microarray needles deliver a chemotherapeutic agent, doxorubicin, transdermally to the lesion site.
Qamar told Proactive that the technology has the capacity to be a game-changer not only in treating basal cell carcinoma but also in advancing the field of derma-oncology.
SkinJect conducted a phase one/two trial for basal cell carcinoma, completing the Phase One safety and tolerability study in March 2021. The innovative approach involves dose escalation to assess the safety and potential impact of these needles on basal cell carcinoma.
Unlike the common standard of care, which often involves invasive surgery, SkinJect's approach focuses on a minimally invasive yet highly effective product. The microarray needles deliver the chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin transdermally to the lesion site, avoiding systemic side effects.
With promising data showing complete responses in patients, Qamar is focused on Medicus Pharma (TSX-V:MDCX)'s goals for the coming year. The team is “actively working” on clinical development activities, Qamar noted.
“There are a lot of exciting things going to be happening. Our goal is to finish the trial looking into Phase Two and presenting some data that will hopefully be promising.”
For Qamar, the work is largely a labor of love.
“Oncology has been my lifelong passion, dedicated to bringing novel therapeutics not only to the market but, more importantly, to address the unmet medical needs of patients,” Qamar said.
“What people may not realize is that the standard surgical procedures, while considered the best care, can significantly impact patients financially due to high recurrence rates. Our hope is to contribute to scientific advancements and positively impact lives in the realm of oncology."