BayPAT’s Licensee Scintomics signed Sub-License Agreement with Blue Earth Diagnostics to bring rhPSMA for Prostate Cancer to Market

Under the terms of the agreement, Blue Earth Diagnostics has acquired the exclusive worldwide rights to a broad family of prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeted radiohybrid agents for cancer imaging, together with an exclusive option to explore therapeutic applications. The out-licensed rhPSMA pharmaceuticals have potential in both imaging and therapy of prostate cancer. Blue Earth Diagnostics in close collaboration with Scintomics, TUM and BayPAT will drive development of a lead imaging compound, ¹⁸F-rhPSMA, and use joint forces to identify optimized therapeutic candidates for future development.

“We are very happy that BayPAT could support our licensee Scintomics to lay the foundation for rhPSMA to become a success story for prostate cancer patients by finding Blue Earth Diagnostics as an ideal partner for rapid commercialization of the rhPSMA radiopharmaceuticals.” Dr. Robert Phelps, BayPAT’s Chief Executive Officer said.

“We are very enthusiastic about the broad applicability of the versatile radiohybrid technology. It  allows, for the very first time, the true bridging of functional imaging and radioligand therapy by labeling/activation of either the imaging or therapeutic option, without affecting a drug’s molecular structure,” said Saskia Kropf, Chief Executive Officer of Scintomics. In addition, Saskia Kropf is convinced “that this exciting agreement with Blue Earth Diagnostics on rhPSMAs will also pave the way for further rh-based targeted ligands for imaging and therapy.”

“This agreement supports our strategic focus and is the next step in advancing our mission to develop and deliver products that address unmet medical needs in prostate cancer,” said Jonathan Allis, D. Phil., CEO of Blue Earth Diagnostics.

About rhPSMA

rhPSMA was invented at the Technical University of Munich, Germany and commercialized by BayPAT. At the Technical University of Munich it has been utilized clinically in the diagnostic imaging of men with both primary and recurrent prostate cancer. ¹⁸F-rhPSMA consists of a prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) receptor ligand, which attaches to and is internalized by prostate cancer cells, and is labeled with the ¹⁸F radioisotope for PET imaging. rhPSMA and other “rh” compounds, can also be labeled with the radioisotope ¹⁷⁷Lu for therapeutic use.

About Prostate / Recurrent Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in men. While most primary prostate cancer can be successfully treated, the disease recurs in approximately one-third of patients. In some patients, recurrent disease is detectable only by a rise in prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels, yet the location of the recurrence cannot consistently be located by conventional imaging, potentially impacting subsequent management of these patients.

About Scintomics

Scintomics GmbH was founded in 2006 and initially focused its business on the development and production of fully automated devices for GMP production of radiopharmaceuticals at hospitals and clinical sites. As part of Scintomics natural expansion in providing fully integrated radiopharmaceutical service, Scintomics has made itself a name worldwide as a highly specialized company for innovative and unique nuclear medicine tracer technology, both for imaging and therapy. On the road to continued expansion, Scintomics considers the radiohybrid tracer platform as an important milestone in its strategic position as one of the "global players" in the radiopharmaceutical business. Although the path through successful clinical studies is not an easy one, the rapid approval of the first radiohybrid, a rhPSMA tracer, will have highest priority for Scintomics.