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Cytogen and Dowpharma Collaborate to Develop Targeted Oncology Product

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Cytogen, a biopharmaceutical company, and Dowpharma, a business unit of The Dow Chemical Co., have entered into a collaboration to create a targeted oncology product designed to treat prostate and other cancers. Under the agreement, Dowpharma's proprietary MeO-DOTA bifunctional chelant technology will be used to radiolabel Cytogen's prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) antibody with a therapeutic radionuclide. This collaboration represents a significant step in the development of Cytogen's therapeutic franchise in oncology, leveraging Dowpharma's expertise in chelation, conjugation, process, and radiochemistry.

Key Takeaways:

  • The collaboration involves the use of Dowpharma's MeO-DOTA bifunctional chelant technology to radiolabel Cytogen's PSMA antibody with a therapeutic radionuclide.
  • The PSMA antibody, 7E11-C5.3, is directed against an intracellular epitope of PSMA and has been excluded from the PSMA technology licensed to the PSMA Development Co., LLC.
  • The joint venture between Cytogen and Dowpharma will focus on attaching a therapeutic radioisotope to the 7E11 antibody, enabling targeted delivery of a cytotoxic agent.
  • Dowpharma's MeO-DOTA bifunctional chelant will be used to attach the beta-emitting radionuclide lutetium-177 as a payload to the 7E11 antibody.
  • The resulting molecule will be developed for the treatment of various cancers, initially in prostate, that express the PSMA marker.
  • This collaboration represents a significant step in the development of Cytogen's therapeutic franchise in oncology, leveraging Dowpharma's expertise in chelation, conjugation, process, and radiochemistry.

Statistics:

  • The use of Dowpharma's MeO-DOTA bifunctional chelant technology has been shown to provide exceptional stability to ensure that therapeutic radionuclides do not separate from the monoclonal antibodies that target them to tumors (Source: Health & Medicine Week).
  • The attachment of the beta-emitting radionuclide lutetium-177 as a payload to the 7E11 antibody will enable targeted delivery of a cytotoxic agent.
  • The resulting molecule is designed for the treatment of various cancers, including prostate cancer, that express the PSMA marker.

Sources:

  • Health & Medicine Week, "Cytogen and Dowpharma Collaborate to Develop Targeted Oncology Product" (2005)
  • NewsRx.com, Copyright 2005 Health & Medicine Week via NewsRx.com

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