ARTBIO and 3B Pharmaceuticals Partner to Develop Alpha Radioligand Therapy for Solid Tumors

ARTBIO, Inc. (ARTBIO), a company at the clinical stage specializing in radiopharmaceuticals, and 3B Pharmaceuticals GmbH (3BP), a private biotech firm focusing on oncology diagnostics and therapeutics, have entered a global exclusive license and research agreement. This collaboration aims to develop a preclinical stage peptide-based Alpha Radioligand Therapy (ART) targeting the treatment of solid tumors.

The addition of this program to ARTBIO’s pipeline underlines the company's mission to move beyond existing prostate cancer treatments. It aims to develop innovative therapies addressing a wide range of cancer types. ARTBIO’s AlphaDirect™ platform, which uses 212Pb for alpha radioligand therapies, is central to this initiative because of its favorable properties, including a short half-life and single alpha emission, which ensures efficient energy delivery to tumors.

Emanuele Ostuni, Ph.D., ARTBIO's CEO, emphasizes that acquiring this first-in-class program from 3BP aligns with their goal to pioneer new cancer treatments. The partnership combines 3BP's expertise in peptide discovery with ARTBIO's innovative 212Pb ART development, promising to unlock new targets and significantly benefit patients.

The new program addresses various solid tumor indications where there is a significant need for effective therapies. Currently, radioligand therapies are not widely used or under advanced development for these indications. ARTBIO plans to initiate clinical development of this licensed program starting in 2025, leveraging both companies' expertise to optimize the therapy.

Dr. Ulrich Reineke, Managing Director of 3BP, highlights that combining their discovery platforms with ARTBIO’s capabilities will redefine the treatment approach for solid tumors. This collaboration embodies a shared vision and complementary contributions aimed at accelerating the development of this potentially transformative therapy for solid tumor patients.

ARTBIO is committed to redefining cancer care by creating novel alpha radioligand therapies. The company's innovation lies in selecting appropriate alpha-precursor isotopes and tumor-specific targets to develop highly effective and safe therapeutics. ARTBIO’s AlphaDirect™ technology is a unique 212Pb isolation method that supports a distributed manufacturing approach for the reliable production and delivery of ARTs. The company has multiple programs in its pipeline, with its lead program AB001 currently in first-in-human trials. ARTBIO builds on a significant scientific legacy, with pioneering work in radiation therapy from the University of Oslo and Norway's Radium Hospital.

3B Pharmaceuticals GmbH, based in Germany, is focused on developing therapeutic and diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals for oncology. The company uses a dedicated technology platform to create a diverse pipeline of compounds that target both innovative and established drug targets, delivering radioisotopes to tumors for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. 3BP's mission is to enhance precision oncology care through nuclear medicine solutions that address unmet medical needs.