Clyde M. Ofner III, Ph.D., has been a professor of pharmaceutics in the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy since 1987. His responsibilities include teaching courses in pharmacy, pharmaceutical chemistry and pharmaceutical technology, as well as in the pharmaceutics graduate program. Research in his group is focused on macromolecular drug delivery for tumor therapy. There are several potential advantages that a macromolecular conjugate of an anticancer drug may have compared to the free drug. These include higher maximum tolerated doses, an enhanced local effect, and reduced side effect toxicities. He is particularly interested in the role of molecular weight and other properties using a biodegradable carrier at the cellular and tumor level. Current research projects are aimed at:
- Characterizing the ability of a high molecular weight biodegradable carrier to extend circulation time of a conjugate (gelatin/doxorubicin, G-DOX) followed by enhanced tumor accumulation and intracellular uptake
- Determining intracellular mechanistic differences between the free drug and G-DOX
- Design and evaluation of high dose methotrexate effects using soluble gelatin-methotrexate conjugates and microspheres
Dr. Ofner has directed the research of about two dozen undergraduate and graduate students which has involved gelatin, a natural product, and includes anticancer-gelatin conjugates for soluble and microsphere delivery, and release of macromolecules from implantable and biodegradable gelatin hydrogels. One area of current research (NIH-funded) focuses on exploring enhanced cellular uptake of anticancer-gelatin conjugates to increase drug effectiveness and reduce toxic side effects of a drug. He has about 50 publications of research abstracts, research articles and book chapters. He received the FDA Commissioner’s Special Citation for his work on the Gelatin Capsule Working Group of the FDA (1995-98). He was president of the USP chapter of Sigma Xi (The Scientific Research Society) and has been an officer of the Philadelphia Pharmaceutical Forum, a discussion group of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists since 1989.
Dr. Ofner is a licensed pharmacist in the state of Pennsylvania, and is also a member of the honor society of pharmacy (Rho Chi), the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy and the American Pharmaceutical Association.
