ITM Executes Option to In-license Targeted Radionuclide Therapy Candidate LuCaFab (ITM-31) for the Treatment of Malignant Brain Tumors
Exclusive license from Helmholtz Munich will enable ITM to access IP and know-how to develop and commercialize ITM-31 for glioblastoma patients
Garching/Munich, Germany -- ITM Isotope Technologies Munich SE (ITM), a leading radiopharmaceutical biotech company, today announced the execution of an exclusive licensing option for LuCaFab (now ITM-31), a novel Targeted Radionuclide Therapy candidate for the treatment of malignant glioblastoma. ITM-31 is a carbonic anhydrase XII (CA XII)-specific antibody Fab fragment developed by Helmholtz Munich and coupled with ITM's medical radioisotope, non-carrier-added Lutetium-177 (n.c.a. 177Lu, EndolucinBeta®). The exclusive license from Helmholtz Munich is based on the option and cooperation agreements announced in January 2022, which the partners entered into with the goal of advancing ITM-31 into clinical development.
Under the terms of the license agreement, ITM will hold exclusive rights to the compound ITM-31 as well as the rights to related patents and know-how for the manufacturing and use of ITM-31.
“Glioblastoma remains one of the most aggressive and difficult to treat cancers globally and we believe that targeted radiotherapy and particularly ITM-31 can make a significant impact for patients by selectively eliminating tumor remnants post-surgery,” said Steffen Schuster, CEO of ITM. “Based on the promising preclinical data we have seen to date and the successful collaboration with Helmholtz Munich and the University Hospital Münster we are confident that we can continue our rapid development plan, further broadening the depth of our clinical pipeline.”
The Targeted Radionuclide Therapy with ITM-31 targets a specific protein (antigen) called CA XII, which is highly expressed on the cell surface of glioblastoma cells, but not found on healthy glial cells, a specific subpopulation of brain cells. It comprises a CA XII antibody Fab fragment coupled with the radioisotope n.c.a. 177Lu. ITM-31 is administered directly into the tumor cavity via a reservoir following surgery and standard post-operative therapy (intracavitary), from where it migrates into the surrounding tissue with high specificity, binding to glioblastoma cells which are then irradiated and potentially destroyed while healthy tissue is spared.
-
Most popular related searches
Customer comments
No comments were found for ITM Executes Option to In-license Targeted Radionuclide Therapy Candidate LuCaFab (ITM-31) for the Treatment of Malignant Brain Tumors. Be the first to comment!