A leader in the biopharmaceutical field, Brian Frenzel has worked extensively in drug product and business development. Brian Frenzel currently serves as president and CEO of Tosk, Inc., a company that works to develop products to alleviate the side effects of cancer treatments, such as mucositis.

2.  A leader in the biopharmaceutical field, Brian Frenzel
has worked extensively in drug product and business
development. Brian Frenzel currently serves as
president and CEO of Tosk, Inc., a company that
works to develop products to alleviate the side
effects of cancer treatments, such as mucositis.
Mucositis is a condition that affects the mucosal lining
of the body’s gastrointestinal tract. A number of
cancer treatments can cause mucositis, which can
result in inflammation, painful ulcers, and opening a
route of infection from the GI tract into the
bloodstream.

3.  While mucositis can occur throughout the
gastrointestinal tract, it is particularly common in the
oral mucosa, the mucosal tissue in the oral cavity. The
mouth, tongue, gums, and throat are particularly
sensitive areas that are prone to damage by
radiation and chemotherapy.
A patient suffering from oral mucositis often develops
painful open sores in the mouth. These sores make it
difficult to eat and can lead to a cycle of infection
and further damage to oral tissues. Similar damage
can occur in other GI tissues, including the stomach,
intestinal tract, and anal cavity.

4.  The pain and loss of weight associated with
mucositis often lead physicians to limit
dosing of chemotherapy and radiation
therapy. Consequently, mucositis not only
results in reduced quality of life for cancer
patients, but can also reduce the
effectiveness of the cancer treatment itself.
Consequently, efforts to develop drugs to
block chemotherapy and radiation therapy
induced mucositis are vitally important to
improving outcomes for cancer patients.