Cancer fighting biotech Radiopharm Theranostics has licensed another tumour killing antibody, known as DUNP19, from its US development partners, adding to the company’s clinical development pipeline of radiotherapy cancer treatments. The antibody is unique in its dual action in killing both the cancerous tumour and micro-environment cells that make up most of the mass of a solid tumour.
Radiopharm has signed an exclusive licensing agreement with University of California Los Angeles Technology Development Group to licence the promising antibody DUNP19.
The target for the therapy is LRRC15, a substance produced by aggressive and treatment-resistant cancer cells and cells in the surrounding micro-environment, but not by healthy normal tissue.
The antibody has been modified by radiotherapy with a first-in-class ‘dual action’ targeting the cancerous LRRC15 expression in both solid tumour cells and the surrounding tumour micro-environment, that according to the company, are missed by current antibody cancer treatments. Tumour micro-environment cells, such as stromal and immune cells, make up more than 50 per cent of the mass of a tumour.
Radiopharm said as well as its dual action, DUNP19 therapy also delivers fast internalisation and is applicable to a broad range of currently untreatable cancers. The company will commence with a start a study focusing on osteosarcoma, a bone cancer primarily affecting children, adolescents and the young adult population.
It said osteosarcoma had an area of high, unmet need, as surgery and chemotherapy are the only currently available treatments. Aggressive osteosarcoma is one of the highest producers of LRRC15, making it an ideal candidate for proof-of-concept testing of DUNP19.
Radiopharm Theranostics's CEO and Managing, Director Riccardo Canevari said: “We are excited to have entered into the licensing agreement with UCLA and to have added DUNP19, a breakthrough dual action monoclonal antibody, to our clinical development pipeline.”
“DUNP19 has demonstrated promise for several indications, but its potential as first in class therapy for osteosarcoma is particularly exciting, considering the high unmet need in the children and adolescents who typically suffer this disease.”
The agreement licenses Radiopharm to develop radiotherapeutic products using DUNP19, however UCLA retains ownership of the DUNP19 intellectual property. It was developed by Dr David Ulmert PhD and assistant-professor-in-residence at UCLA Molecular and Medical Pharmacology whose department is described as one of the world’s premier developers of novel compounds to battle malignant diseases.
The two organisations said development of the antibody kicked off in 2018 and was possible due to a highly-collaborative environment, a dedicated PhD student, Claire Storey, and access to excellent core facilities, such as the Molecular Screening Shared Resource.
Solving the scourge of currently untreatable cancerous tumours in children is a noble goal and it may well be the united front of UCLA and Radiopharm that helps achieve it.
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By Matt Birney
