SK Biopharmaceuticals Enters into Agreement with KIRAMS for Actinium-225-Based Radiopharmaceutical Research
Tuesday, November 19, 2024
SK Biopharmaceuticals has entered a collaborative agreement with the Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences (KIRAMS) to develop preclinical radiopharmaceutical drug candidates.
This partnership marks the company’s first initiative in using actinium-225 (225Ac), an alpha-particle emitting radioisotope, to explore innovative oncological treatments.
The research will focus on radiopharmaceutical therapies (RPT) that utilise 225Ac’s selective ability to target and destroy cancer cells. These therapies have gained significant attention in nuclear medicine due to their potential effectiveness.
To support its efforts, SK Biopharmaceuticals has secured a supply of actinium-225 from TerraPower Isotopes, a subsidiary of TerraPower, whose investors include SK Inc. The collaboration will combine KIRAMS’ expertise, facilities, and equipment with SK Biopharmaceuticals’ RPT development goals, aiming to submit an Investigational New Drug application by 2027.
This partnership aligns with SK Biopharmaceuticals’ recently introduced RPT Roadmap, which outlines plans to establish itself as a global leader in radiopharmaceutical therapies by 2027. The company aims to strengthen its RPT pipeline through drug discovery, increased production capacity, and strategic partnerships.
In addition to this agreement, the company has licensed SKL35501 (FL-091), a radiopharmaceutical compound targeting neurotensin receptor 1 (NTSR1) in solid tumours.
The initiative also supports the Ministry of Science and ICT’s strategic focus on advancing radiation biology and fostering growth in South Korea's radiopharmaceutical industry.
SK Biopharmaceuticals believes this collaboration represents a key step toward accelerating its development of innovative therapies and expanding its global presence in the RPT sector.
Source: skbp.com
