Date Posted – 3 May 2021
Imagion Biosystems Limited (ASX: IBX), a company dedicated to improving healthcare through the earlier detection of cancer, and Patrys Limited (ASX: PAB), a therapeutic antibody development company, are pleased to announce a collaborative research program using their combined technologies to improve brain tumor imaging and diagnosis.
Patrys’ novel deoxymabs are attracted to the DNA fragments released from dying tumor cells and are able to penetrate and kill tumor cells. The collaboration aims to pair the targeting specificity of the deoxymabs with the imaging capabilities of the MagSense® technology to provide a highly effective imaging agent with high specificity for hard-to-diagnose cancers such as brain cancer.
“We are very interested in the tumor targeting capabilities of the Patrys deoxymabs and believe there is potential for Patrys’ deoxymabs to be paired with our MagSense® nanoparticles for many types of solid tumors,” said Bob Proulx, Executive Chairman of Imagion Biosystems.
“Initially, we are very keen to investigate the potential for brain tumor imaging since there is such a high unmet need for differentiating cancerous tumors in the brain, like glioblastoma, as well as metastatic disease that has spread to the brain from other primary tumors.
“The combination of our two company’s technologies offers a range of exciting opportunities”, said Dr. James Campbell, Patrys’ CEO and Managing Director. “The potential for our deoxymab antibodies to home in on a range of different cancer types due to their affinity for DNA is one of the properties that makes them so unique and opens up a range of different clinical applications for their use.
“We are very excited to be further leveraging the cancer-targeting ability deoxymabs by partnering with Imagion and its innovative MagSense® imaging technology to potentially develop new ways to visualize and diagnose cancer.”
Preliminary research efforts by Imagion have demonstrated that the Patrys PAT-DX1 molecule can be conjugated to the MagSense® nanoparticles and provide bio-functionality for targeting certain cancer cell lines. Should this further collaborative work provide positive results, Imagion will have an exclusive option to a future license agreement, should it elect to commercialize the imaging agent. Under the current collaboration both parties are bearing their own costs.
Brain tumors are neoplasms arising from cells of the central nervous system (CNS) including primary tumors originating in the brain and secondary tumors arising from metastases to the brain. Secondary brain tumors are significantly more frequent, affecting one in four cancer patients. Of the more than 300,000 individuals afflicted with malignant brain cancer each year globally, less than 25% survive beyond five years. Conventional MRI has been the standard modality to identify and localize tumors in the brain for many years, but a biopsy is the only definitive way they can be diagnosed and two-thirds of primary brain tumors are benign. A non-invasive imaging method able to specifically identify malignant brain tumors and differentiate from benign disease would address a significant unmet medical need.
-ENDS
Authorisation & Additional
This announcement was authorised by the Disclosure Committee of Imagion Biosystems Limited.
About Imagion Biosystems
Imagion Biosystems is developing a new non-radioactive and safe diagnostic imaging technology. Combining biotechnology and nanotechnology the Company aims to detect cancer and other diseases earlier and with higher specificity than is currently possible. Imagion Biosystems listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) in June 2017. For further information please visit www.imagionbiosystems.com.
About Patrys Limited
Based in Melbourne, Australia, Patrys (ASX:PAB) is focused on the development of its Deoxymab platform of cell-penetrating antibodies as therapies for a range of different cancers. More information can be found at www.patrys.com.
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