Radiopharm Theranostics inks supply deal with TerThera for Terbium-161 isotope
Radiopharm will link the isotope to a peptide to form RAD 602, which will be trialled on brain cancer patients later in 2023.
Clinical stage radiotherapeutics company Radiopharm Theranostics (ASX: RAD) has announced a deal with Dutch company TerThera for the supply of Terbium-161, a highly promising isotope for targeted cancer treatment.
The isotope will be linked to a proprietary peptide to form RAD 602, a radiotherapeutic being developed by Radiopharm to target protein tyrosine phosphatase mu (PTPmu). PTPmu is expressed in cancer cells but has limited expression in healthy tissue.
Radiopharm plans to initiate a phase one dose-escalating trial of RAD 602 for the treatment of patients with brain cancers during the fourth quarter of calendar 2023.
Radiopharm chief executive officer and managing director Riccardo Canevari said the study will leverage the strong therapeutic properties of Terbium-161 in brain tumours.
“This novel therapeutic isotope represents a potential first-in-class targeted radiotherapeutic that can expand treatment options for patients living with cancer.”
“We believe that Radiopharm has achieved a strong competitive advantage from being the first company to do a phase I trial using this isotope, and securing supply of this relatively scarce isotope,” he added.
Promising cancer treatment
According to Radiopharm, Terbium-161 is considered a highly promising isotope for targeted cancer treatment due to its unique characteristics of radiation emitted, which includes both auger electrons and short-range beta particles. The beta radiation only travels a few millimetres and auger electronic emission has a higher linear energy transfer that travels less than the width of a single cell.
It is considered potentially superior to radionuclide Lutetium-177 due to the auger effect’s increasing potency and efficacy in selectively destroying tumour cells while leaving the surrounding healthy tissue largely unaffected.
TerThera chief executive officer Philippe van Overeem said the radionuclide producer is proud to partner with Radiopharm to help enable development of a new generation of therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals.
“TerThera is positioned to meet the growing global demand for radio isotopes in oncology by providing a highly sustainable and uninterrupted supply of Terbium-161,” he said.
Supply agreement terms
Radiopharm confirmed the costs associated with the purchase of Terbium-161 would be met from existing funds. The initial order for preclinical use is expected in April, with the first order for clinical use anticipated in October.
The supply agreement is for an initial period of three years, starting from 17 April, and may be extended for an additional two years unless agreed otherwise by either party. The deal is not subject to any material preconditions.
Radiopharm will own all data generated and all inventions and discoveries made or conceived from its clinical trials.