A drug once thought to be a possible cure for cancer is to be tested on heart surgery patients.
British Biotech, based in Cowley, has linked up with medical technology company Biocompatibles, of Farnham, Surrey, to develop a drug-coated device to be inserted into damaged arteries.
The two companies have begun clinical trials using Batimastat, once considered a potential cure for cancer.
Batimastat will be loaded into Biocompatibles' coronary stents - tiny pieces of scaffolding used to hold open the arteries - so that the drug can speed up the healing process.
The trial will involve 150 patients across Europe.
British Biotech abandoned Batimastat as a cancer treatment in 1995 after disappointing results from clinical studies.
It will receive royalties from any sales of the stents, as well as "milestone" payments when research targets are met.
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