On March 14, 2023 Defence Therapeutics Inc. ("Defence" or the "Company"), reported that it has signed a Collaboration Agreement with Orano Support SAS on behalf of Orano SA ("Orano"), a world-renowned multinational company, headquartered in Chatillon, France, to develop the next generation of radio-immunoconjugates for radio-immunotherapy using Defence’s intracellular targeting technology (Press release, Defence Therapeutics, MAR 14, 2023, View Source [SID1234635131]).
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The novel concept is to develop new targeted radiotherapies by combining the ability of biological molecules (e.g. an antibody) to target cancer cells with the use of radioactive elements as a means to destroy them, in combination with Defence’s intracellular targeting technology to increase the efficacy.
Under the Agreement, Defence will develop the first radio-immuno-conjugates therapy based on Auger electron emitter by combining Defence’s intracellular targeting expertise and radiochemistry expertise provided by Orano. Auger electron emitter radionuclide, such as Indium111 will be used. This type of radioactive element needs to be very close to DNA for inducing DNA Damage and cell death. Defence’s intracellular targeting technology could be the ultimate solution to improve the therapeutic efficacity of Auger electron radionuclide. The best results should lead to an optimize product from which a GLP tox studies will then be planned accordingly.
With existing antibody-conjugate drugs, a clinical issue with radio-immuno-conjugates to improve is their low intracellular drug delivery to cancer cells, which may cause resistance and recurrence. With the radio-immuno-conjugates using Auger emitters such as 111In is that their efficacies are dependent to their proximity to the DNA. Combining Defence’s AccumTM technology to the radioimmuno-conjugate is expected to amplify the therapeutic index of the drug while minimizing side effects observed in patients undergoing the therapy. Defence’s AccumTM platform has been developed and tested in vitro and in vivo in animals to enhance the intranuclear drug delivery on multiple FDA approved antibody-conjugates or new conjugates under development.
"We have a long-standing knowledge and experience working and developing our AccumTM platform technology, including in the antibody-conjugate therapeutics field, and we definitely believe that Orano, with its international expertise, represents a strong collaborator for the development of the next generation of radio-immuno-conjugates using Defence’s intracellular targeting technology to increase the efficacy in targeting tumoral cancer cells" said Sebastien Plouffe, Chief Executive Officer of Defence Therapeutics. "We look forward to the continued advancement of our AccumTM-expanding pipeline," he added.
According to The Insight Partners, the Radiopharmaceuticals Market is projected to reach US$ 13.818 billion by 2028 from US$ 7.55 billion in 2021; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.0% during 2021–2028. And the global cancer immunotherapy market is expected to reach USD 196.45 billion by 2030, registering CAGR of 7.2% during the forecast period, according to a report by Grand View Research, Inc.