Dreampac Secures Funding to Develop PIPAC for Treating Peritoneal Carcinomatosis
Dreampac, a Korean startup developing precision medical devices for “Pressurized IntraPeritoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy” (PIPAC), which is the new intraperitoneal chemotherapy to treat solid tumor peritoneal carcinomatosis, has secured additional funding from Seoul Techno Holdings. Solid tumors such as stomach, colorectal, pancreatic, and ovarian cancers, when advanced or recurring, often lead to peritoneal carcinomatosis, where cancer spreads throughout the abdominal cavity.
Current treatments include surgery and chemotherapy, and more recently, targeted therapies and immunotherapy drugs have been used. However, these treatments are costly, and the 5-year survival rate is low, ranging from 5-20%. The condition often progresses to multi-drug-resistant tumors, causing bowel obstruction and multi-organ failure, leading to patient death.
PIPAC, which inspired Dreampac’s creation, has been practiced in Europe since 2010 as a palliative chemotherapy option for patients with solid tumors and peritoneal carcinomatosis who have no other effective treatment options. It has demonstrated cost-effective therapeutic response rates ranging from 20-80%, along with clinical evidence of improved quality of life, such as enhanced appetite and physical activity. This year, Phase III clinical trial results are expected to be released, potentially allowing this innovative medical technology to expand to countries outside Europe.
In South Korea, PIPAC hasn’t yet been implemented due to complex certification and approval processes, along with reimbursement barriers for medical procedures. Dreampac has tackled this challenge by developing a new medical device, Rotational Intraperitoneal Pressurized Aerosol Chemotherapy (RIPAC), which improves drug delivery by using an electric rotating nozzle to ensure more even and effective chemotherapy application across the peritoneal surface. The company is currently preparing for the evaluation of RIPAC as a new and innovative medical technology.
Seoul Techno Holdings noted, “We made this follow-up investment because we believe in the need for innovative medical devices and the potential to turn skilled medical professionals into successful entrepreneurs.”
Heeseung Kim, CEO of Dreampac and also a faculty member at Seoul National University College of Medicine’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, explained, “My experience with both surgery and chemotherapy led me to launch this startup, leveraging Korea’s exceptional biomedical engineering technology. This approach has gained recognition, attracting investment from various sources, including Seoul Techno Holdings. We plan to use this investment to secure comprehensive approval for our certified medical device as an innovative medical technology, establish a domestic foundation for medical reimbursement, and prepare for international expansion.
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