On May 25, 2022 Convergent Therapeutics Inc., a clinical stage radiopharmaceutical company, and IONETIX Corporation, a leading cyclotron technology, and isotope manufacturing company, reported a long-term supply agreement for the therapeutic medical radioisotope, actinium-225 (Ac-225) (Press release, Convergent Therapeutics, MAY 25, 2022, View Source [SID1234615054]). The agreement will support Convergent’s pipeline of next-generation radiotherapies including its lead asset, CONV01-α, a prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeted monoclonal antibody linked to Ac-225. CONV01-α is currently being investigated as a potentially groundbreaking treatment for prostate cancer.
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Ac-225 is a high-energy alpha-emitting radioisotope of great interest for the treatment of cancer as it carries sufficient radiation to cause cancer cell death while limiting unwanted off-target radiation. Convergent is investigating its use in targeted radiopharmaceutical therapies, which combine select molecules with therapeutic radioisotopes to directly target and deliver therapeutic doses of radiation to destroy cancer cells in patients. Clinical research and commercial use of Ac-225 are constrained by its short supply, due to limitations of current production technology, emphasizing the need for strategic supply agreements.
"IONETIX is dedicated to establishing a secure and reliable supply of Ac-225," said David Eve, Vice President of Medical Affairs for IONETIX. "We have installed our first cyclotron in Lansing, Michigan that will be fully commissioned to produce Ac-225 later this year. We look forward to supporting Convergent in advancing the development of CONV01-α and other new innovative radiopharmaceuticals."
"Radiopharmaceuticals like CONV01-α represent an exciting new approach for the treatment of cancer, and the recent approval of Pluvicto demonstrates the growing need for targeted radiotherapies," said Philip Kantoff, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Convergent Therapeutics. "CONV01-α is a monoclonal antibody radiolabeled with Ac-225 and specifically designed to bind to PSMA, which is highly expressed in prostate cancer, to deliver therapeutic doses of radiation directly into prostate cancer cells."
"Convergent is committed to building a robust pipeline of best-in-class radiopharmaceutical therapies for patients in need; the first step of which is the continued clinical development of CONV01-α. IONETIX has dedicated its manufacturing activities to support the advancement of innovative radiopharmaceuticals such as CONV01-α," said Alexander Brown, Chief Operating Officer of Convergent Therapeutics.