A new IV form of the cancer drug everolimus
Original title: Intravenous Everolimus Formulation (Sapu003) for Clinical Trials.
How far along is this research?
- Lab cells
- Animals
- Review
- Tested in people
This was done in animals, not people. Most findings at this stage never become treatments.
The brain tumor results were only in mice, and the early study in people is not for brain tumors.
The short version
Scientists made a drip version of a cancer pill, and it slowed brain tumors in mice.
What was studied. Researchers built a new IV form of the cancer drug everolimus, called Sapu003. They tested how well it could be made and stored, and they tested it in mice carrying human glioblastoma: The fastest-growing type of glioma (grade 4). Treatment usually starts soon after diagnosis: surgery first, then radiation and chemotherapy. See the glossary tumors.
What they found. Everolimus is taken by mouth today, but only about 15-20% of it gets into the body. In the mice, the new IV drug slowed tumor growth by 97-98%, and it worked better than everolimus taken by mouth. The drug stayed stable for at least one month in the fridge and for at least 24 hours at room temperature.
What this means, and what it doesn't
What it could mean: There may be a way to get this drug into the body through a vein instead of a pill. A first study in people has started. It is testing Sapu003 along with another drug in people with advanced solid tumors.
What it doesn't mean: This does not mean there is a new treatment for brain tumors. The brain tumor results came from mice, not people. The study in people is an early one that checks safety and dose, and it is not a brain tumor study. This IV form is not approved for anyone. It is not a cure, and it is a long way from the care you can get today.
Source: PubMed, June 26, 2026 · Read the original
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