Radiopharm takes ownership of cancer fighting nano-tools

Cancer fighting biotech Radiopharm Theranostics has taken full ownership of the intellectual property rights of three cancer-fighting nanobodies that target a range of solid tumors including breast cancer. Radiopharm had held the licence to use the assets in its studies, however following the purchase, it now has exclusive world-wide use of the technology that is used in the diagnosis and treatment in a range of cancers.

Radiopharm Theranostics is a biotechnology developer of a platform of radiopharmaceutical products for both diagnostic and therapeutic uses.

The company has acquired patents to three different antibodies from NanoMab Technology, targeting HER-2, TROP-2 and PTK7 receptors that exist in a variety of cancer cells.

These particular receptors all exist in solid tumour cancers, with the HER-2 receptor most common in breast cancer.

The technology purchased assists in the both the diagnosis and the treatment of the cancer.

The acquisition of the nanobody technologies from NanoMab follows successful clinical trials and pre-clinical studies.

Studies primarily investigated the safety, dosimetry and efficacy of the three assets and were undertaken with Radiopharm’s collaborators on the research project, Shanghai General Hospital and NanoMab.

Results from clinical trials with the HER-2 receptors have successfully indicated the potential for the nanobodies to be used for a range of purposes including imaging and diagnosis. Management now plans to advance the trials to a therapeutic stage as a matter of priority.

The company is also in the process of preparing the technology for clinical trials on the TROP-2 or PTK7 receptors .

The company said its decision to acquire the IP for three NanoMab assets was based on the high potential of nanobody technology in both diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

Radiopharm will transfer a total of US$500,000 in fully paid Radiopharm Theranostics shares to NanoMab for the transaction.

Radiopharm Theranostics Managing Director, Riccardo Canevari said:

“Acquiring the IP for these assets supports Radiopharm’s strategy to focus on innovation and it will allow us to further accelerate clinical development of these multiple assets.”

“We are excited to build on our existing portfolio of worldwide IP rights with these assets from Nanomab Technology.”

Radiopharm is one of many biotechnologies to be brought to market by its Executive Chairman Paul Hopper.

Hopper’s resume includes the founding of clinical stage immuno-oncology company Imugene that has a market capitalisation of approximately $2 billion. He also founded ASX-listed Chimeric Therapeutics and holds boardroom positions at Prescient, Polynoma and Suda Pharmaceuticals.

Any company making legitimate headway in the fight against cancer is usually noticed in the public biopharmaceutical space and it looks like Radiopharm is one of a handful of listed companies that may be getting the upper hand in the fight against cancer.

Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: matt.birney@businessnews.com.au