RICHMOND, Calif., Oct. 21 /PRNewswire/ — Lumiphore Inc., a
biotechnology leader in new proprietary bifunctional
metal-chelation technology for use in high-value imaging,
diagnostics, and therapeutics and Algeta ASA (OSE:ALGETA), the
cancer therapeutics company, announced that they have signed a
global agreement on incorporation of Lumiphore’s Lumi4®
complexes in Algeta’s targeted radiotherapeutics and companion
diagnostics.
Under the agreement, Algeta has an option to the exclusive
rights to incorporate Lumi4® isophthalamide chelation
technology into future targeted radiopharmaceutical therapeutics
for cancer.
“Lumiphore’s goal is to bring the benefits of bifunctional
metal-chelation technology to therapeutic markets that use targeted
radiopharmaceuticals to treat cancer. The ability to chelate
radioactive metal isotopes and covalently attach them to
therapeutic antibodies, peptides, proteins, or other receptor
targeting molecules will benefit targeted delivery to cancer sites
and has the potential to make current therapeutic antibodies more
effective,” said Dr. Ken Raymond, President and CEO of
Lumiphore.
Algeta has proprietary technology relating to the use of the
alpha emitter thorium-227 to protein/peptides to target specific
cancer cells. Thorium-227 is an isotope that emits high-energy
alpha particles. Such isotopes are of considerable interest in the
treatment of cancer as they are potent at killing tumor cells but
have a highly localized effect. By linking thorium-227 to
tumor-targeting molecules such as monoclonal antibodies, Algeta has
the potential to create a pipeline of new generation
alpha-pharmaceuticals designed to specifically seek and destroy
cancers while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues.
“Using Lumi4® bifunctional chelates,” explained Thomas Ramdahl,
Chief Technology Officer of Algeta, “could create a new class of
radioimmunotherapeutics. By linking thorium-227 to selected tumor
targeting an
‘/>”/>