Preclinical development of a novel radiopharmaceutical bioconjugate with the potential to cross the blood brain barrier

CIS Pharma and the University of Applied Sciences in Basel were granted a two-year research program by the Swiss Nanoscience Institute, SNI, to develop a nanobody-radionuclide conjugate, currently at preclinical stage. The bioconjugate is based on CIS Pharma’s polymer drug carrier technology and is developed to diagnose and treat B7H3-positive forms of cancer. The target plays a role in the adaptive immune system and is overexpressed in differentiated malignant cells and cancer initiating cells. The humanized nanobody will comprise reduced immunogenicity and is designed to improve the efficacy/safety profile of the therapy.

Nanobodies are smaller in size, approx. 10% of a full length antibody, and allow deeper penetration of solid tumors with faster accumulation in the target tissue. Based on CIS Pharma’s polymer carrier technology, the nanobody is designed to carry one or more different diagnostic and therapeutic actives. Earlier this year, an in-vivo biodistribution study demonstrated positive effects of the payload technology on conjugation and on pharmacokinetics.