Algeta and Lumiphore Announce Global Agreement for the Development of Targeted Alpha-Pharmaceutical Therapeutics

RICHMOND, Calif., Oct. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Lumiphore Inc., a biotechnology leader in new proprietary bifunctional metal-chelation technology for use in high-value imaging, diagnostics, and therapeutics and Algeta ASA (OSE:ALGETA), the cancer therapeutics company, announced that they have signed a global agreement on incorporation of Lumiphore's Lumi4® complexes in Algeta's targeted radiotherapeutics and companion diagnostics.

Under the agreement, Algeta has an option to the exclusive rights to incorporate Lumi4® isophthalamide chelation technology into future targeted radiopharmaceutical therapeutics for cancer.

"Lumiphore's goal is to bring the benefits of bifunctional metal-chelation technology to therapeutic markets that use targeted radiopharmaceuticals to treat cancer. The ability to chelate radioactive metal isotopes and covalently attach them to therapeutic antibodies, peptides, proteins, or other receptor targeting molecules will benefit targeted delivery to cancer sites and has the potential to make current therapeutic antibodies more effective," said Dr. Ken Raymond, President and CEO of Lumiphore.

Algeta has proprietary technology relating to the use of the alpha emitter thorium-227 to protein/peptides to target specific cancer cells. Thorium-227 is an isotope that emits high-energy alpha particles. Such isotopes are of considerable interest in the treatment of cancer as they are potent at killing tumor cells but have a highly localized effect. By linking thorium-227 to tumor-targeting molecules such as monoclonal antibodies, Algeta has the potential to create a pipeline of new generation alpha-pharmaceuticals designed to specifically seek and destroy cancers while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues. "Using Lumi4® bifunctional chelates," explained Thomas Ramdahl, Chief Technology Officer of Algeta, "could create a new class of radioimmunotherapeutics. By linking thorium-227 to selected tumor targeting antibodies using existing non-proprietary chelates , Algeta has already demonstrated in vivo the potential of its proprietary technology for enhancing the performance of radio-immunotherapies based on existing clinical antibodies. We believe that the new chelators will provide even better results."

Lumi4® complexes are a new class of metal lanthanide and actinide chelators based on technology patented by Professor Kenneth N. Raymond and coworkers at the University of California, Berkeley and modified by Lumiphore. This unique patent family is focused on a novel cage structure surrounding lanthanide ions which enables them to be tightly held and covalently attached to receptor targeting molecules.

This is the fourth major agreement reached by Lumiphore in the past four years. Previous partnerships include Thermo Fisher Scientific Specialty Diagnostics (www.thermofisher.com) for certain diagnostic tests to be used in both in laboratories and point-of-care-formats including Downs Syndrome; Cis Bio International (www.htrf.com/company/partners/) for the drug discovery research market; and Biophor Diagnostics Inc. (www.biophor.com) for diagnostic tests for drugs of abuse.

About Lumiphore, Inc.

Based in Richmond, California, Lumiphore Inc, a privately held company, is a biotechnology leader in the development of proprietary fluorescent-metal lanthanide and chelation technology for use in high-value imaging and therapeutic applications which are commercialized through market-specific alliances with corporate partners. Lumiphore has exclusive licenses to the basic science developed at the University of California, Berkeley in the laboratory of Professor Kenneth N. Raymond, a world expert on lanthanide chemistry. For more information about Lumiphore, log onto www.lumiphore.com. Lumi4® is a registered mark of Lumiphore, Inc.

About Algeta

Algeta is a focused oncology company developing novel targeted therapies for patients with cancer based on its alpha-pharmaceutical platform.

Algeta's lead product Alpharadin (based on radium-223) is a first-in-class, highly targeted alpha-pharmaceutical under clinical evaluation to improve survival in patients with bone metastases from advanced cancer. Its localized action helps preserve the surrounding healthy tissue thereby limiting side-effects.

The development of bone metastases represents a serious development for cancer patients as they are associated with a dramatic decline in patient health and quality of life, ultimately leading to death. Bone metastases represent a major unmet medical need, occurring in up to 90% of certain late-stage cancers, e.g. prostate, breast and lung.

Alpharadin is partnered with Bayer Schering Pharma AG, a major pharmaceutical company, and is in a global phase III clinical trial (ALSYMPCA) to treat bone metastases resulting from hormone-refractory (castration-resistant) prostate cancer. Alpharadin is also under investigation in phase II clinical trials as a potential new treatment for bone metastases in endocrine-refractory breast cancer patient, and in a phase I/IIa trial in combination with docetaxel chemotherapy in CRPC patients with bone metastases. 

Algeta also aims to develop a future pipeline of tumor-targeting alpha-pharmaceutical candidates based on the alpha particle emitter thorium-227, through selective in-licensing and/or acquiring innovative technologies and tumor-targeting molecules.

The Company is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, and was founded in 1997. Algeta listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange in March 2007 (Ticker: ALGETA). 

Alpharadin and Algeta are trademarks of Algeta ASA. www.algeta.com

SOURCE Lumiphore, Inc.