On May 3, 2025 TAE Life Sciences (TLS) reported the signing of a Letter of Intent to collaborate with The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James) in the development and evaluation of novel boron-based drug compounds—an essential component of Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) (Press release, TAE Life Sciences, MAY 3, 2025, View Source [SID1234652484]).

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This partnership marks the first-of-its-kind U.S.-based academic-industry alliance dedicated to accelerating BNCT drug innovation and translational research. By optimizing boron delivery agents, TLS and OSUCCC aim to unlock BNCT’s full potential as a powerful, highly selective, and relatively non-toxic therapy and positioning it as a new modality in the next era of precision oncology.

"We are entering a pivotal moment in cancer therapy," said Dr. Arnab Chakravarti, Chair and Professor of Radiation Oncology, Klotz Family Chair of Cancer Research and Director of the Brain Tumor Program at Ohio State. "BNCT offers an unprecedented opportunity to treat malignancies that are otherwise unresponsive to conventional therapies, while sparing healthy tissue. Our laboratory is uniquely poised to lead this next wave of boron drug innovation, and we are excited to collaborate with TAE Life Sciences in accelerating this effort on a global scale."

The initial focus of the collaboration will be the preclinical evaluation of TLS’s proprietary boron-10 drugs in cellular and animal models, leveraging Ohio State’s specialized neutron source optimized for BNCT research. In parallel, the teams will pursue joint development of next-generation boron drugs for BNCT and adjacent applications—unlocking new possibilities in precision cancer treatment.

"This partnership marks a major leap forward for the future of BNCT," said Robert Hill, CEO of TAE Life Sciences. "We are deeply honored to collaborate with Dr. Chakravarti and his world-class team of research and clinical experts. Their pioneering track record of leadership and innovation will be instrumental not only in advancing the science behind novel boron drug compounds but also in paving the way toward potential regulatory approval. Together, we’re creating a dynamic force for innovation that has the potential to redefine cancer care."

Hill notes that this partnership establishes a key pillar for accelerator-based BNCT and significantly accelerate the path to breakthrough cancer therapies, positioning the United States to have a leading position in the next wave of innovation in precision oncology. Hill emphasized that the growing body of international clinical evidence—particularly from Japan, Taiwan, and Europe validates BNCT’s ability to deliver durable responses in patients with otherwise untreatable cancers. This collaboration will help position the United States in having a leading position in advanced drug development and establishing the next wave in precision medicine.