Breakthrough Drug Doubles Survival in Glioblastoma Patients

**Groundbreaking results** from a trial at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) are offering hope for glioblastoma patients. The study, published in _Nature Communications_, revealed that the investigational drug **Rhenium Obisbemeda (186RNL)** more than doubled median survival and progression-free times compared to standard treatments, without significant toxic effects. ### **The Trial and the Drug** Glioblastoma is notoriously resistant to conventional treatments like surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, with a **median survival of only 8 months** after standard treatment fails. This trial tested the delivery of Rhenium Obisbemeda directly to brain tumors in 21 patients using **neuronavigation and convection catheters**. The unique formulation involves **rhenium-186, a beta-emitting radioisotope,** encapsulated in tiny liposomes for precise targeting of tumor cells. ### **Promising Results** Patients who received doses greater than **100 gray (Gy)** had a **median survival of 17 months** and a **progression-free time of 6 months**. The innovative delivery method allowed for high radiation doses to be absorbed by tumors with minimal adverse effects, most of which were unrelated to the treatment. ### **Future Prospects** With no dose-limiting toxic effects observed, and significant improvement in survival rates, the phase 1 trial sets a promising precedent. **Phase 2 of the ReSPECT-GBM trial** is currently ongoing, aiming to further validate these findings and potentially establish a new standard in glioblastoma therapy.