# Treating non-small cell lung tumors with a novel inhaled dry powder chemotherapeutic formulation

> **NIH NIH R44** · QUENCH MEDICAL, INC. · 2024 · $874,452

## Abstract

Project Summary / Abstract
Significance
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality with a 5-year survival rate of less than 20% following
standard of care therapy.
Problem
Despite the use of aggressive surgery, combination chemotherapy and immunotherapy, a major limitation in the
control of primary and metastatic non-small cell pulmonary tumors with the use of the systemic administration of
drugs is the low drug concentration in the lungs due to blood volume dilution and metabolism. There is a critical
unmet medical need to develop new strategies to improve patient treatment outcomes.
Innovation
In contrast to systemic delivery of chemotherapy, inhalation delivers a chemotherapeutic drug directly to tumor
tissues in the lung thereby enhancing its efficacy and safety due to increased local drug concentration in the
lung, decreased systemic drug levels in the circulation, and decreased systemic toxicity.
Gap
Preliminary pre-clinical in-vivo studies using nebulized chemotherapy drugs has demonstrated efficacy and
established the feasibility of delivery via aerosol, but nebulization of toxic drugs has major drawbacks. These
drawbacks include a lack of efficient peripheral airway penetration, high mouth-throat deposition, contamination
of equipment, and collateral aerosol risk to medical staff.
Project Objective
To address these drawbacks, we are developing a new method of delivering a chemotherapeutic drug via
inhalation to reach pulmonary tumors directly in order to maximize the effectiveness and safety of the aerosol
treatment with a fraction of the standard dose. We will create a novel dry powder chemotherapeutic formulation
containing an FDA approved chemotherapy medication for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.
Aims
Aims of this proposal will be 1) scale-up the lead Quench EEG formulation and conduct characterization, stability,
and performance studies, and 2) conduct IND-enabling toxicology studies in an established inhalation toxicology
rodent model for regulatory submission.
Commercial Potential
Translation of this technology into a clinically beneficial inhalable chemotherapy product has the potential to
significantly improve the treatment of pulmonary tumors in lung cancer patients by delivering targeted lower
doses of medicine directly to the lung while minimizing systemic toxicity.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10817774
- **Project number:** 5R44CA277898-02
- **Recipient organization:** QUENCH MEDICAL, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** Bryce Beverlin II
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $874,452
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-04-01 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10817774

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10817774, Treating non-small cell lung tumors with a novel inhaled dry powder chemotherapeutic formulation (5R44CA277898-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-29 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10817774. Licensed CC0.

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