A PIONEERING cancer treatment developed in Malvern has moved closer to being marketed as an effective therapy for liver cancer.

Further trials are under way on international biomedical company pSivida's BrachySil treatment at Singapore General Hospital.

BrachySil uses a biodegradable form of silicone called BioSilicon, developed by pSiMedica, a firm based at Malvern Hills Science Park.

pSiMedica's director of research and development Mark Parry-Billings said an initial trial to determine the treatment's safety had been successful.

"We have made a significant commitment to this product, and we have some significant and positive data," he said.

The treatment involves injecting particles of BioSilicon carrying a radioactive substance directly into tumours.

It can be delivered under local anaesthetic, allowing patients to be discharged the next day, and minimising the side effects associated with treatments such as chemotherapy.

Lead investigator at Singapore General Hospital Dr Pierce Chow said the hospital was delighted to continue working on the treatment.

"BrachySil has so far demonstrated its potential as a safe and relatively pain-free treatment," he said.

"We expect this new trial to bring it closer to the patients who really need it."

A revolutionary implantation device that allows treatment of larger and multiple tumours is also being tested.

The device could allow BrachySil to treat other forms of tumour cancer, and a trial on pancreatic cancer is already being planned.

pSivida's CEO Gavin Rezos said the latest trial was a milestone in the programme to commercialise BrachySil.

"We believe that the encouraging findings in earlier studies will be confirmed and optimised in this trial," he said.

Public relations executive Helena Podd said that if BrachySil was registered as planned in 2007, approval should follow by 2008.