“If someone can do it, you can do it.” These were the poignant words spoken two decades ago by science technician Kin San Lee, words that would ignite a relentless pursuit for a cancer cure by his colleagues, Dr. Himanshu Brahmbhatt and Dr. Jennifer MacDiarmid. Their journey, marked by groundbreaking innovation and formidable challenges, is now the focus of a new two-part SBS documentary, The Cancer Killers.
Based in their Sydney laboratory, Brahmbhatt and MacDiarmid have developed the EnGenIC Dream Vector (EDV), a microscopic “Trojan Horse” designed to target and destroy cancer cells while sparing healthy ones. This innovative approach was first highlighted in a 2011 episode of the ABC’s Australian Story. The documentary captures their arduous battle against cancer and the resistance they faced from established medical and business communities.
The Birth of a Revolutionary Idea
Kin San Lee’s words had a profound impact on Brahmbhatt. “Kin San Lee was an amazing scientist,” he recalls. “His words spun me around 1000 times. After that, I just sat in the Sydney University well into the night and kept on studying … That’s when I realised, there’s got to be something better.” This realization led to the development of the nano-cell technology that could potentially bring patients from end-stage cancer to complete remission.
Despite the promise shown by the EDV, widespread availability remains a distant goal. “We get asked by patients, ‘Why can’t I get the treatment now?’” Brahmbhatt explains. “The problem is that there are a lot of people who, in the interest of making money, try to push products onto the market. And hence, regulatory bodies have become very strict.”
Challenges and Cultural Barriers
The documentary follows the scientists as they travel to the United States in search of patents and funding. Brahmbhatt shares a revealing encounter with a potential investor. “I was amazed when I met one of those hundred-million-dollar-plus people who was in his late 70s,” he says. “I did a presentation and he sat there and listened for an hour. And at the end, he said, ‘Just tell me one thing … This cancer thing – is it painful?’ That shocked me.”
MacDiarmid notes a cultural bias that favors American innovation over Australian. “There’s even a cultural cringe here,” she says. “When we had our first patent, the Australian patent office was the first to review it. And their actual comment was, ‘Surely this would have been done in America?’”
The Documentary’s Insight
Filmmaker Judy Rymer, who narrates the series, spent 15 years documenting the scientists’ journey. “The parallel universe became more and more profound,” she says. “We all faced problems with funding, and with shocking timelines. They’re very selective about how they want to expose themselves to the public because of somebody trying to copycat it.”
Rymer believes that the Australian biotech industry lacks the exposure it deserves. “But I do think that the biotech industry in Australia doesn’t get the kind of exposure that we would probably like it to,” she adds.
A Personal and Professional Bond
The scientists’ daily routine includes a breakfast debate, where ideas are vigorously exchanged. “We throw everything that’s in our minds on the table,” says Brahmbhatt. “By the time the breakfast is over, we have come to consensus views on several issues.” MacDiarmid adds, “We get on famously. I think he’s brilliant. I’m more focused and can reel him in, but we work off each other very well.”
Tragedy recently struck their team with the loss of their first postdoctoral scientist to cancer. “We were gutted that [due to protocol], we couldn’t get the EDV into someone who worked on it,” says MacDiarmid. “It was heartbreaking. And there’s a long line of people like her waiting.”
Despite the challenges, MacDiarmid remains hopeful. “Even when you think that there’s nothing to be done, we can do something and have done something. We’re on your side,” she assures patients.
The Cancer Killers premieres at 9.30pm on Tuesday, November 4, on SBS.
