The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has signed an agreement with South Korean company C-Biomex to co-develop CBT-001, a radioligand targeting the CA9 cancer biomarker.
The partners plan to conduct preclinical studies of CBT-001 to evaluate its potential for translation into early-phase clinical studies and a possible Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
CBT-001 is a radiolabeled isotope (Lutetium-177) attached to a proprietary peptide-ligand targeting CA9 (carbonic anhydrase 9), a biomarker overexpressed in various cancers, including renal, breast, and lung cancers.
Early-stage data generated by C-Biomex with the Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences gave a “strong foundation” for the research collaboration, the parties said in a statement. They said that the key to success with the molecule type was “specific delivery to the tumor and rapid clearance, with minimal accumulation in healthy cells.”
The partnership will evaluate systemic and tumor-specific uptake of CBT-001, as well as antitumor efficacy and toxicology, in preclinical models.
Charles Manning, PhD, professor of Cancer Systems and Imaging and director of the Cyclotron Radiochemistry Facility at MD Anderson, will be the project’s principal investigator.
“We have seen encouraging early data with this radioligand, and we look forward to collaborative work as we seek to bring impactful new treatment options to our patients in need,” Manning said.
Under the terms of the agreement, C-Biomex will provide research support funding; MD Anderson is eligible to receive certain royalties and payments based on a range of future development milestones.
The Pohang, South Korea-based C-Biomex is developing several next-generation radioligand therapies with its CUS peptide discovery platform technology.
“We hope this collaborative research allows us to move swiftly toward an FDA IND application and, ultimately, to an approved treatment that can benefit patients with a variety of cancers,” said Cha JunHoe, PhD, CEO of C-Biomex.
