MELBOURNE, Australia and NANTES, France, April 16, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited (ASX:TLX) (“Telix”, the “Company”), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of diagnostic and therapeutic products based on targeted radiopharmaceuticals or “molecularly-targeted radiation” (MTR), has today announced a research partnership with the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale or “INSERM”) and the “Accelerator for Research in Radiochemistry and Oncology at Nantes Atlantic” (ARRONAX).
INSERM is a leading translational research organization with a strong track record of industry engagement and technology development to benefit human health. ARRONAX is a unique cyclotron (particle accelerator) facility and a world-leader in the production of certain novel radioactive isotopes, including 211At (astatine). Together, INSERM and ARRONAX have created a highly capable nuclear medicine research cluster in Nantes with a track record of cutting-edge translational research.
Under the research partnership, Telix will explore the feasibility of using several of its clinical targeting agents with astatine. Astatine is an “alpha emitter”, a very high-energy radionuclide that is capable of significantly altering the tumour microenvironment when attached to a molecular targeting agent that is specific for cancer cells. The agreement will fund sufficient staff and facility time to conduct a number of studies over a two-year period, including preparation for pilot clinical studies in the nuclear medicine department of University Hospital of Nantes. The agreement also accesses a portfolio of intellectual property that has been developed within the Nantes cluster that may lead to new products and indications for Telix’s therapeutic pipeline.
Telix Europe President Ms. Odile Jaume stated, “The Nantes nuclear research cluster is one of the finest translational environments in Europe, with a particular strength and capability in astatine, including production facilities and processes that are capable of making materials for human research. This collaboration has the potential to expand the clinical utility of Telix’s technology and build a set of ‘next generation’ products that may deliver even greater clinical utility to cancer patients.”
Professor Michel Chérel (team leader, INSERM University of Nantes) and Dr Jean-Francois Gestin (radiochemistry development) noted, “We are pleased to be working with Telix to progress the use of astatine in a clinical setting. This partnership is a great example of translational research aiming at truly personalized medicine in France and beyond. The clinical translation of astatine therapy will be performed in the nuclear medicine department of Nantes Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) and l'Institut de Cancérologie de l'Ouest (ICO) chaired by Professor Françoise Kraeber-Bodéré, in collaboration with the Labex IRON network (Innovative Radiopharmaceuticals in Oncology and Neurology) and “Le SIRIC ILIAD” (Imaging and Longitudinal Investigations to Ameliorate Decision-making in Multiple Myeloma and Breast Cancer).”
Professor Ferid Haddad, Director of ARRONAX added, “Our facility has been established with the development of alpha-nuclide therapy in mind. To this end, this highly innovative partnership with Telix is an important step forward and we believe that it will result in the development of new cancer treatment strategies.”
About Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited
Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited (Telix) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of diagnostic and therapeutic products based on targeted radiopharmaceuticals or “molecularly-targeted radiation” (MTR). The company is headquartered in Melbourne with international operations in Brussels (EU), Kyoto (JP) and Indianapolis (US). Telix is developing a portfolio of clinical-stage oncology products that address significant unmet medical need in renal, prostate and brain (glioblastoma) cancer. Telix is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX:TLX). For more information visit www.telixpharma.com.
About INSERM
INSERM brings together 15,000 researchers, engineers, technicians, and administrative staff around one common goal: to improve the health of all by advancing knowledge of life and disease, innovation in treatment, and public health research. INSERM is the leading European academic biomedical research institution, with nearly 12,000 publications a year. For more information visit www.inserm.fr
About INSERM CRCINA
INSERM CRCINA Oncology Nuclear team is one of the few research groups in France dedicated to radioimmunotherapy (RIT) and, in particular, the development of alpha-nuclide therapy. The CRCINA team has the capability to develop new therapeutics from bench to bedside. For more information visit www.crcina.org
About ARRONAX
The Groupement d'Intérêt Public (GIP) ARRONAX is based in Nantes, France. It research infrastructure dedicated to the production of radioactive materials for nuclear medicine, including sterile production for clinical use. The core of the facility is a 70 MeV multi-particle high intensity cyclotron. ARRONAX routinely produces several innovative radionuclides and is one of the few places worldwide producing 211At (astatine). For more information visit www.arronax-nantes.fr
Important Information
This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, securities in the United States, or in any other jurisdiction in which such an offer would be illegal. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the “US Securities Act”), or under the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States and may not be offered or sold within the United States, unless the securities have been registered under the US Securities Act or an exemption from the registration requirements of the US Securities Act is available.
None of the products described in this release have obtained a marketing authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration.