- Researchers from IIS La Fe and UV have patented a combination of pterostilbene and silibinin with a radioprotective and radiomitigating effect.
- In preclinical studies, the oral formulation increased survival in mice by up to 90% after a lethal dose of radiation, without reducing the effectiveness of radiotherapy.
- The European patent protects a technology with potential application in pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, cosmetic or food products.
- The development has international protection in countries such as the United States, Japan, Korea, Australia, Canada, China, and Mexico.
The La Fe Health Research Institute (IIS La Fe) and the University of Valencia have taken a step forward in protection against the effects of ionizing radiation. They have developed an innovative formulation that combines pterostilbene and silibinin , two compounds with recognized biomedical properties, and which also allows for the incorporation of other complementary molecules. The aim is both to prevent damage before exposure and to aid the body's recovery after radiation exposure.
This technology, protected by a European patent, is presented as a strategy with radioprotective and radiomitigating potential. Ionizing radiation, present in X-rays and radiotherapy treatments, can cause serious damage to organs and tissues when exposure is high. Currently, there are no fully effective treatments for acute radiation syndrome , which affects the hematopoietic and gastrointestinal systems, so this advance addresses an unmet medical need.
Promising results in the preclinical phase
The collaboration between the La Fe Health Research Institute (IIS La Fe) and the University of Valencia has resulted in a preclinical study with striking results. In mice exposed to a lethal dose of ionizing radiation, oral administration of the formulation based on pterostilbene and silibinin increased survival to 90% . Furthermore, no reduction in the effectiveness of radiotherapy against highly aggressive tumors was observed, reinforcing its potential in oncological settings.
Although this data is still preclinical, the line of research is not limited to generating scientific knowledge. The protected technology envisions its development as a pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, cosmetic, or food product , with different routes of administration, including topical, which is especially useful for protecting skin and mucous membranes in clinical settings.
Collaboration between science, hospital and innovation
Dr. Alegría Montoro, a researcher with the Radiation Protection Service at the La Fe University and Polytechnic Hospital and the GIBI230 research group at the La Fe Health Research Institute (IIS La Fe), emphasized that this wide range of potential applications makes the research "an example of translational innovation" that connects the laboratory, the clinical setting, and the production sector. Alongside her, the inventors from the University of Valencia are José María Estrela, Elena Obrador, and Rosario Salvador, from the Cellular Physiopathology Unit research group.
The technology transfer activity has fostered collaboration with the biotechnology company CIRCE Health Science, which focuses on cellular resilience and healthy aging. Some of the knowledge generated has contributed to the development of products marketed under the IOVE brand. In addition to the European patent, the invention is protected or extended in the United States, Japan, Korea, Australia, Canada, China, and Mexico , underscoring its strategic international significance.
The combination of pterostilbene and silibinin, along with the possibility of adding other molecules, offers a dual action: preventing damage before exposure and mitigating its effects afterward. This approach, supported by a European patent and preclinical studies with a 90% survival rate, positions the La Fe Health Research Institute (IIS La Fe) and the University of Valencia as leaders in the search for solutions against ionizing radiation, with applications ranging from protection in radiotherapy to potential uses in accidental situations.