XoLacta to reduce radiation side effects in HER2-positive breast cancer
Official title: XoLacta: An Adjuvant Therapy for treatment of Radiation Side effects during HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Treatment
Funded at Tiny Cargo Company, the · NIH-11254142 · Data updated 2026-11-12
XoLacta, a milk-derived therapy given during radiation, aims to help people with HER2-positive breast cancer heal better and have fewer side effects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tiny Cargo Company, the NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Roanoke, United States) |
| Project start | September 22, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,022,907 |
| NIH project number | 2R44CA272078-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11254142 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be people with HER2-positive breast cancer who are receiving adjuvant radiotherapy and want treatments to reduce radiation-related side effects.
✕Less likely to help
People who are not receiving radiation, whose cancer is unrelated to HER2 status, or who have severe milk allergies likely would not benefit or be eligible.
What this research studies
You would be hearing about a treatment called XoLacta made from milk extracellular vesicles that carry a drug to promote tissue healing after radiation. The team loads the drug into these tiny vesicles, has developed a way to dry them so they do not need constant refrigeration, and is scaling up manufacturing in Roanoke, VA. They are running absorption and metabolism studies and larger animal tests and have discussed regulatory steps with the FDA to move toward human use. If clinical studies happen, they would test whether taking XoLacta during radiotherapy lowers local tissue damage and speeds recovery.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, XoLacta could lower radiation damage and speed healing, reducing side effects for people receiving radiotherapy for HER2-positive breast cancer.
How similar studies have gone: The company reports promising preclinical results and an earlier Phase I award and is conducting PK/ADME work, but large human trials demonstrating benefit have not yet been completed.
Where this research is happening
-
Tiny Cargo Company, the
Roanoke, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Marsh, Spencer Reid — Tiny Cargo Company, the
- Study coordinator: Marsh, Spencer Reid
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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XoLacta adjuvant therapy to reduce radiation side effects during HER2-positive breast cancer treatment
A new milk-derived therapy called XoLacta aims to lessen radiation-related side effects for people undergoing treatment for HER2-positive breast cancer.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.