Preventing Glioblastoma Recurrence Using a Post-surgery Drug Paste
Fast facts
- Title: Evaluation of post-resection use of MTL-004 with standard of care in the treatment of primary glioblastoma
- Lead Researcher: Dr Michael Hudson
- Where: Gordian Pharma Ltd., United Kingdom
- When: October 2025 – December 2026
- Cost: £400,000 over 14 months
- Research type: Adult, High Grade, Glioblastoma, Translational
- Grant round: Translational Award
The most common type of aggressive brain tumour found in adults are Glioblastomas (GBM). Glioblastomas, made up of different cell types, can vary in the way they behave, grow and respond to therapies. The variability within these cells makes it difficult to develop a one-size-fits-all treatment and is partly responsible for the poor survival rates of GBM. Current standard of care combines surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, but even with these treatments, glioblastoma almost always comes back.
What is it?
Dr Michael Hudson is part of the team at Gordian Pharma Ltd who are aiming to search for a drug that, alongside current treatments, can be used to try and stop glioblastomas from growing back.
This project is focusing on one drug called MTL-004, or ‘hydrogel’. Following surgery, the aim is that MTL-004 will be applied as a paste to the area where the tumour was removed. The molecule then attaches to DNA and stops it from being copied, causing cells to die. This could help kill the cancer cells left behind after surgery to prevent glioblastoma from recurring.
In this project, the team at Gordian Pharma Ltd will be running final tests on this hydrogel in lab models before they can move it forward to clinical trials. These tests are important to find the most effective dose in patients. Additional tests will be done to make sure that MTL-004 is safe to use in combination with temozolomide and radiotherapy.
Why it’s important
Current treatments often can’t reach all cancer cells and can cause adverse side effects. The hydrogel MTL-004 could change this by acting at the edge of the tumour removed after surgery, avoiding damage to healthy cells.
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In this section
Dr Michael Hudson
Dr Michael Hudson is the Program Director of Gordian Pharma Ltd and has been the co-founder of multiple biotechnology companies. With a wide range of experience in oncology and paediatric medicine, he has helped bring revolutionary products to the forefront of his sectors.