Abstract: The present invention generally relates to sensitizer compounds and their use to sensitize cancer and/or pre-cancerous cells of certain cancers to treatment with certain resistance-prone therapeutics used in cancer therapy. In embodiments, the conjugates of particular esters or amides of Near Infrared Dyes, are used as sensitizers to avoid or overcome therapeutic resistance once formed. In embodiments, the sensitizers include conjugates with Cisplatin, Simvastatin, Artemisinin, platin-based compounds or statins. In embodiments, the resistance prone cancer therapeutics include cisplatin, gemcitabine, doxorubicin, paclitaxel, docetaxel, and platin-based compounds. These may be administered in combination with the sensitizer, or the sensitizer itself may comprise an therapeutic-derived moiety conjugated to the sensitizer, for example as is the case for dye-CIS conjugated sensitizers. Alternatively, the sensitizer may be co-administered with one or more therapeutic.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to sensitizer compounds and their use in combination with Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs) for sensitizing tumor, cancer or pre-cancerous cells to TKI treatment. In particular, the present invention relates to administration regimes that combine TKIs such as Gefitinib or Icotinib with TKI-sensitizing DZ1 esters and amides conjugated to statin or platin-based drugs, or to Artemisinin, including, without limitation: DZ1-Simvastatin amide, DZ1-Simvastatin ester, DZ1-Cisplatin ester, and DZ1-Cisplatin amide, DZ1-Artemisinin ester, and DZ1-Artemisinin amide. Furthermore, the present invention relates to improved TKI treatment of cancers by sensitizing tumor, cancer or pre-cancerous cells, in particular cancers that develop TKI resistance, including e.g. lung cancer and pancreatic cancer.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to tumor homing statin derivatives (THSD) and their use for therapy, in particular cancer therapy. These THSD comprise three moieties: a statin moiety which comprises a dihydroxyheptanoic acid unit (DHHA) fixated by linkage into its open chain form, a heptamethine carbocyanine dye (HMCD) moiety, and a linker that conjugates the DHHA of the statin to the dye moiety. The linker is linked to the DHHA via an ester bond (ester-linked statin derivative or ELSD), or via an amide bond (amide-linked statin derivative or ALSD). Thus linked to the DHHA, the linker provides a relatively stable link either for essentially no hydrolysis/statin release after administration, or preferably for very slow hydrolysis and statin release, as is the case for the ELSD. Embodiments include methods to provide the desired THSD, in particular the ELSD, with the DHHA in its open chain form.

Abstract: A dye-drug conjugate for preventing, treating, or imaging cancer having the following structure: wherein R1 and R2 are independently selected from the group consisting of —H, alkyl, alkyl-sulphonate, alkylcarboxylic, alkylamino, aryl, —SO3H, —PO3H, —OH, —NH2, and -halogen; wherein Y1 and Y2 is independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkylsulphonate, alkylcarboxylic, alkylamino, ?-alkylaminium, ?-alkynyl, PEGyl, PEGylcarboxylate, ?-PEGylaminium, ?-acyl-NH, ?-acyl-lysinyl-, ?-acyl-triazole, ?-PEGylcarboxyl-NH—, ?-PEGylcarboxyl-lysinyl, and ?-PEGylcarboxyl-triazole; wherein X is selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen, halogen, CN, Me, NH2, SH and OH; and R3 and R4 are independently a hydrogen, a therapeutic agent, or an imaging moiety, wherein the therapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of a platinum-based therapeutic agent, a small molecule therapeutic agent, a peptide, a protein, a polymer, an siRNA, a microRNA, and a nanoparticle, wherein the ima

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to artemisinin/dihydroartemisinin (DHA) derivatives, and their use for therapy, in particular cancer therapy. These tumor-homing artemisinin derivatives (THAD) comprise three moieties: an artemisinin/DHA or a derivative thereof, a heptamethine carbocyanine dye (HMCD) residue, and a linker that conjugates the HMCD dye residue to the artemisinin residue. The THAD include compounds wherein the linker is linked to one or two DHA residue(s) via one or more ether bonds, and wherein the linker is linked to two DHA residues via two bonds independently selected from ester, carbamate and thiocarbamate. The THAD of the invention provide improved growth inhibition of cancer cells. The present invention also relates to improved methods of cancer therapy wherein a THAD is administered to a cancer patient. In embodiments, one or more THAD may be co-administered in a coordinated administration schedule.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to tumor homing statin derivatives (THSD) and their use for therapy, in particular cancer therapy. These THSD comprise three moieties: a statin moiety which comprises a dihydroxyheptanoic acid unit (DHHA) fixated by linkage into its open chain form, a heptamethine carbocyanine dye (HMCD) moiety, and a linker that conjugates the DHHA of the statin to the dye moiety. The linker is linked to the DHHA via an ester bond (ester-linked statin derivative or ELSD), or via an amide bond (amide-linked statin derivative or ALSD). Thus linked to the DHHA, the linker provides a relatively stable link either for essentially no hydrolysis/statin release after administration, or preferably for very slow hydrolysis and statin release, as is the case for the ELSD. Embodiments include methods to provide the desired THSD, in particular the ELSD, with the DHHA in its open chain form.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to sensitizer compounds and their use to sensitize cancer and/or pre-cancerous cells of certain cancers to treatment with certain resistance-prone therapeutics used in cancer therapy. In embodiments, the conjugates of particular esters or amides of Near Infrared Dyes, are used as sensitizers to avoid or overcome therapeutic resistance once formed. In embodiments, the sensitizers include conjugates with Cisplatin, Simvastatin, Artemisinin, platin-based compounds or statins. In embodiments, the resistance prone cancer therapeutics include cisplatin, gemcitabine, doxorubicin, paclitaxel, docetaxel, and platin-based compounds. These may be administered in combination with the sensitizer, or the sensitizer itself may comprise an therapeutic-derived moiety conjugated to the sensitizer, for example as is the case for dye-CIS conjugated sensitizers. Alternatively, the sensitizer may be co-administered with one or more therapeutic.