MucoShield develops new treatment for chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis

The team behind MucoShield: Jean Lycke, Project Lead, Mats Jontell, Prof. Oral Medicine and Pathology; Olle Isaksson, Prof. Endocrinology; and Thomas Hedner, Prof. of Clinical Pharmacology.

Swedish biotechnology company MucoShield AB is developing a new locally administered, fast-acting treatment designed to protect the oral mucosa during chemotherapy and prevent severe chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis (CIOM), one of the most painful and debilitating side effects experienced by patients undergoing cancer treatment.
“Our goal is to improve oral health in patients with impaired mucosal protection, regardless of whether the underlying cause is cancer therapy, medication, autoimmune disease, or ageing,” says Jean Lycke, Project Lead at MucoShield.

Oral mucositis affects a large proportion of patients undergoing high-dose chemotherapy or stem cell transplantation. The condition can cause severe oral pain, an increased risk of infection, difficulties eating and drinking, and, in the worst cases, interruptions to life-saving cancer treatment.

Unlike current approaches, MucoShield is developing a locally administered therapy designed to temporarily reduce exposure of the oral mucosa to cytotoxic agents during chemotherapy, with the aim of preventing tissue damage before it occurs.

“Our technology has the potential to address a major unmet medical need. Existing preventive measures offer limited efficacy, and there remains a substantial need for better solutions. The global market for preventive treatment in this area is estimated to exceed USD 1 billion,” says Jean Lycke.

Intended for use before chemotherapy
MucoShield’s treatment is based on the hypothesis that temporary modulation of local blood flow in the oral mucosa can reduce tissue exposure to cytotoxic drugs. This protective effect will be evaluated in upcoming studies to prevent the development of severe oral mucositis.
“We are developing a treatment that will be administered prior to chemotherapy. It is being formulated both as a gel and a spray, and future studies will determine which formulation provides the greatest clinical benefit,” says Jean Lycke.

Dry mouth treatment also in development
The MucoShield team includes Jean Lycke, Project Lead; Mats Jontell, Professor of Oral Medicine and Pathology; Olle Isaksson, Professor of Endocrinology; and Thomas Hedner, Professor of Clinical Pharmacology.

In addition to its oral mucositis programme, the team is also developing treatments for dry mouth (xerostomia), a common and growing condition that affects the quality of life of millions of patients worldwide.

“Xerostomia contributes to impaired oral health, increased risk of dental caries, swallowing difficulties, altered taste sensation, and a significant reduction in quality of life. There is a strong need for effective, long-lasting, and patient-friendly treatment options, and our research indicates that our technology has the potential to protect and stabilize the oral mucosa,” says Jean Lycke.

A spin-out of Mucocort AB
MucoShield has now joined Umeå Biotech Incubator (UBI), which already supports the company’s sister venture, Mucocort AB.

“We have had very positive experiences working with UBI. The business support they provide is crucial to our development, both in terms of quality assurance throughout the process and access to financial support,” says Jean Lycke.

About Oral Mucositis (CIOM)
• Affects many patients undergoing chemotherapy or stem cell transplantation
• Can lead to severe pain, infections, and nutritional deficiencies
• One of the most common reasons for delays or interruptions in cancer treatment
• There is currently no effective, easy-to-administer preventive treatment available

About MucoShield AB
• MucoShield AB is a Swedish biotechnology company developing locally administered, fast-acting therapies to prevent drug-induced damage to the oral mucosa.
• Its lead program targets chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis, while additional programs are being developed for xerostomia and other conditions associated with impaired mucosal protection.
• The company is a spin-out of Mucocort AB and is based on research conducted by the same scientific team.

For more info, contact 
Jean Lycke,
Project Lead, MucoShield AB 
Tel: +46 70 277 15 11
Email: jl@emerentiagruppen.se