A revolutionary new cancer treatment developed in Malvern begins clinical trials and commercial production in May.

Malvern bio-technology company pSiMedica has joined forces with an international radioactive materials firm to produce the potentially life-saving treatment.

The treatment delivers anti-cancer drugs directly into tumours using a special injection. The hope is that this will make drugs more effective and lead to less damaging side effects.

The treatment uses a special form of silicon, which can safely dissolve in the body and this is designed to act as a carrier for various drugs. Liver cancer treatment uses radioactive isotopes to destroy cancer cells.

"Because the silicon technology we've developed is a drug carrier system rather than a new drug we've been able to get trials under way quite quickly," explained commercial director Jill Ogden.

The manufacturing agreement with AEA Technology QSA will mean the new treatment, known as Brachysil, will be produced initially for hospital trials in Singapore and then commercially.

The companies hope their co-operation will have the new treatment on the market by 2006.

"It is possible for us to get this new treatment on the market quickly because it uses drugs that are already in use," said Mrs Ogden.

PsiMedica are now looking at other medical uses for their silicon-based technology.

The company, which is based at the Malvern Hills Science Park, was previously part of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, now QinetiQ.