NEW YORK, Jan. 17, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Actinium
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE AMERICAN: ATNM) announced
today that it has successfully completed the first module of its
previously announced research and option agreement with Astellas
Pharma Inc. Within the collaboration, the Company is using its
Actinium Warhead Enabling (AWE) Platform to conjugate and label
select Astellas targeting agents with the potent actinium-225
(Ac-225) payload.
"This collaboration represents Actinium and Astellas' shared
commitment to employ cutting-edge technology in the research of new
drug candidates for patients. Therefore, we are delighted that
Astellas has opted to progress our ground-breaking collaborative
research activities to the next stage of research," said Dr.
Dale Ludwig, Actinium's Chief
Scientific Officer. "I am very pleased with the results we have
generated in our efforts with Astellas to date, which I believe
showcase the capabilities of our AWE Platform Technology. My team
and I are excited to execute the next module of the collaboration
and are optimistic that we will continue to move the program
forward."
Since launching its AWE Program in November 2017, Actinium has achieved a number of
milestones including:
- Appointed Dr. Dale Ludwig, a
leading antibody therapeutics and antibody conjugate expert, as
Chief Scientific Officer
- Presented positive data at ASH 2017 demonstrating the
superior in vitro cell killing properties of Ac-225
labeled daratumumab or Darzalex™, Johnson
& Johnson's blockbuster CD38 targeting therapy for multiple
myeloma
- Presented additional positive data from in
vivo animal studies at AACR 2018 demonstrating enhanced
tumor control and survival with Ac-225 labeled daratumumab
- Signed collaborative research and option agreement with
Astellas
Actinium's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Sandesh Seth added, "Actinium's AWE technology
platform encompasses not only our Ac-225 payload but also our
intellectual property, know-how, clinical experience, and
exoskeleton of a commercial supply chain that uniquely positions us
in the industry. The strong execution of this collaboration thus
far showcases Actinium's expanded R&D capabilities that give us
great excitement for what we can accomplish in the future with our
team and technology. Combined with the continued clinical progress
across our pipeline, particularly our pivotal Phase 3 trial for
Iomab-B and expansion of our CD33 program into targeted
conditioning and new disease indications, we are motivated to
capitalize on the significant opportunities that lie ahead of
us."
About Actinium Warhead Enabling Platform Technology
The Actinium Warhead Enabling (AWE) Program has at its
centerpiece the AWE Platform Technology. The Company's proprietary
AWE Platform Technology is supported by intellectual property and
know-how that enables the creation of Actinium-225 (Ac-225)
Radio-Conjugates (ARCs) wherein a biomolecular targeting agent is
stably labeled with the powerful Ac-225 payload to enhance targeted
cell killing. The AWE Platform is protected by intellectual
property covering the use of the "gold standard" chelator DOTA, and
any conceivable derivative thereof. Additionally, Actinium holds
intellectual property protection covering methods of chelation or
labeling of the targeting agent with Ac-225, including newer
next-generation methodologies for chelation of Ac-225.
The AWE Program is structured to provide the opportunity for
partners or collaborators to derive maximum value from a
collaboration by leveraging Actinium's extensive technical
know-how, access to its ARC drug development infrastructure and to
its underlying AWE Platform Technology. The AWE Program provides a
partner or collaborator with access to Actinium's knowledge bank
and infrastructure allowing collaborators to benefit from
accelerated development timelines for its ARCs.
To learn more about the AWE Technology Platform or the AWE
Program please contact Eileen
Geoghegan, Ph.D., at egeoghegan@actiniumpharma.com.
About Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Actinium Pharmaceuticals Inc. is focused on improving patient
access and outcomes to cellular therapies such as bone marrow
transplant (BMT) and CAR-T with its proprietary, chemotherapy free,
targeted conditioning technology. Actinium is the only company with
a multi-disease, multi-target, drug development pipeline focused on
targeted conditioning. Its targeted conditioning technology is
enabled by ARCs or Antibody Radio-Conjugates that combine the
targeting ability of monoclonal antibodies with the cell killing
ability of radioisotopes. Actinium's pipeline of clinical-stage
targeted conditioning ARCs target the antigens CD45 and CD33 for
patients with a broad range of hematologic malignancies including
acute myeloid leukemia (AML), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and
multiple myeloma (MM).
Iomab-B, Actinium's lead targeted conditioning product
candidate, is currently enrolling patients in the pivotal Phase 3
SIERRA trial in patients age 55 or older, with active, relapsed or
refractory AML. Iodine-131 apamistamab (Iomab-B), combines the
anti-CD45 monoclonal antibody labeled with iodine-131 for
myeloablation prior to a bone marrow transplant. CD45 is expressed
on leukemia, lymphoma and normal immune cells. Iomab-B has been
studied in over 500 patients in 10 clinical trials in numerous
hematologic diseases. Actinium's Iomab-ACT program is an expansion
of its CD45 program that is intended to be a universal, chemo-free
solution for targeted lymphodepletion prior to CAR-T. Through
targeted lymphodepletion, the Iomab-ACT program is expected to
improve CAR-T cell expansion, reduce CAR-T related toxicities and
expand patient access to CAR-T treatment and potentially other
adoptive cell therapies. Due to its lower payload dose,
lymphodepletion with the Iomab-ACT program can be accomplished
through a single outpatient infusion. Actinium intends to advance
its Iomab-ACT program with CAR-T focused collaborators from
academia and industry.
Actinium's pipeline also includes a potentially best-in-class
CD33 program with its ARC comprised of the anti-CD33 antibody
lintuzumab labeled with the alpha-particle emitter actinium-225.
Its CD33 program is currently being or planned to be studied in
multiple Phase 1 clinical trials for targeting conditioning, in
combinations and as a therapeutic in multiple diseases and
indications including AML, MDS and MM.
Actinium is also developing its proprietary AWE or Antibody
Warhead Enabling technology platform which utilizes radioisotopes
including iodine-131 and the highly differentiated actinium-225
coupled with antibodies to target a variety of antigens that are
expressed in hematological and solid tumor cancers. The AWE
technology enables Actinium's internal pipeline and with the
radioisotope Actinium-225 is being utilized in a collaborative
research partnership with Astellas Pharma, Inc.
Actinium's clinical programs and AWE technology platform are
covered by a portfolio of over 75 patents covering composition of
matter, formulations, methods of use and also methods of
manufacturing the radioisotope Actinium-225 in a cyclotron.
More information is available at www.actiniumpharma.com and our
Twitter feed @ActiniumPharma, www.twitter.com/actiniumpharma.
Forward-Looking Statements for Actinium Pharmaceuticals,
Inc.
This press release may contain projections or other
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the
"safe-harbor" provisions of the private securities litigation
reform act of 1995 regarding future events or the future financial
performance of the Company which the Company undertakes no
obligation to update. These statements are based on
management's current expectations and are subject to risks and
uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially
from the anticipated or estimated future results, including the
risks and uncertainties associated with preliminary study results
varying from final results, estimates of potential markets for
drugs under development, clinical trials, actions by the FDA and
other governmental agencies, regulatory clearances, responses to
regulatory matters, the market demand for and acceptance of
Actinium's products and services, performance of clinical research
organizations and other risks detailed from time to time in
Actinium's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"SEC"), including without limitation its most recent annual report
on form 10-K, subsequent quarterly reports on Forms 10-Q and Forms
8-K, each as amended and supplemented from time to time.
Contact:
Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Steve O'Loughlin
Principal Financial Officer
soloughlin@actiniumpharma.com
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SOURCE Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.