Aktis Oncology to Present Initial Clinical Data on NECTIN-4 Targeting Radiopharmaceutical AKY-1189 at 2024 Symposium

Aktis Oncology, a clinical-stage oncology company, has showcased promising data on its innovative radiopharmaceutical product, AKY-1189, at the EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics held in Barcelona, Spain. This cutting-edge product targets Nectin-4 expressing tumors and is engineered to deliver actinium-225 directly to these tumors while minimizing exposure to healthy organs and tissues.

AKY-1189 has demonstrated significant potential in treating various solid tumors, including locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC), and cancers such as breast, lung, colorectal, and cervical cancers. The data presented at the symposium includes three abstracts, one of which was an oral presentation by Mike Sathekge, MD, who is the Head of the Nuclear Medicine Department at the University of Pretoria and Steve Biko Academic Hospital, as well as the President and CEO of Nuclear Medicine Research Infrastructure (NuMeRI).

Dr. Sathekge's presentation highlighted the human biodistribution and dosimetry data of AKY-1189. This study involved imaging 20 patients diagnosed with various metastatic cancers using [68Ga]Ga-AKY-1189. The results from 15 evaluable patients revealed that AKY-1189 was generally well tolerated with no treatment-emergent adverse events. Moreover, significant tumor uptake was observed in primary and metastatic lesions across multiple cancer types. The dosimetry analyses suggested a wide therapeutic index for [²²⁵Ac]Ac-AKY-1189, supporting its progression to therapeutic clinical studies.

Dr. Sathekge noted the significant tumor uptake and promising biodistribution of AKY-1189 in both mUC and other tumor types. This discovery is seen as a crucial step forward in the treatment of Nectin-4 expressing cancers, highlighting the potential of radiopharmaceuticals as a mainstream oncology treatment.

Additionally, Aktis Oncology presented two posters at the symposium. The first poster discussed the preclinical development of AKY-1189, demonstrating its potency and selectivity as a Nectin-4 miniprotein binder optimized for use as a targeted radiopharmaceutical. The second poster focused on the accuracy of allometric scaling methods used to predict human organ dosimetry from preclinical data for AKY-1189 and another Nectin-4 miniprotein binder, AKY-807.

Matthew Roden, PhD, President and CEO of Aktis Oncology, emphasized the potential of AKY-1189 to target Nectin-4 expressing cancers efficiently. He lauded the data presented, noting that AKY-1189 is the first therapeutic product candidate from Aktis' novel miniprotein radioconjugate platform. He expressed optimism about advancing this promising candidate through therapeutic clinical studies, which could signify a new era in radiopharmaceutical treatment.

Aktis Oncology is dedicated to developing targeted radiopharmaceuticals for large patient populations currently underserved by existing technologies. The company’s proprietary miniprotein radioconjugate platform leverages the Nectin-4 tumor-associated antigen found in urothelial and other solid cancers. This platform aims to maximize tumor cell penetration, internalization, and retention while ensuring rapid clearance from normal organs and tissues. This approach seeks to enhance anticancer efficacy while minimizing treatment side effects.

In collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company, Aktis Oncology is also working to develop novel radioconjugates beyond its proprietary pipeline. This strategic partnership further strengthens the company's mission to innovate and provide new solutions in the field of oncology.