Lantheus Acquires Rights to Innovative Imaging Biomarker Targeting Fibroblast Activation Protein (FAP) from Noria
Lantheus Holdings has acquired exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize NTI-1309, a PET oncology imaging agent from Noria Therapeutics. This innovative agent targets fibroblast activation protein (FAP), which is overexpressed in various tumors, making it a promising biomarker for precision medicine in oncology. Noria will conduct early clinical development, while Lantheus plans to integrate the agent into its imaging portfolio for academic and pharmaceutical use. Financial terms include an upfront fee, milestone payments, and royalties upon commercialization.
- Acquisition of NTI-1309 enhances Lantheus's imaging biomarker portfolio.
- FAP has broad applicability in oncology, potentially addressing significant unmet medical needs.
- Collaboration with Noria Therapeutics leverages experience in early-stage imaging development.
- Regulatory risks associated with the development and commercialization of NTI-1309.
- Dependence on third parties for manufacturing and supplying the imaging agent.
Lantheus Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: LNTH) (Lantheus), an established leader and fully integrated provider of innovative imaging diagnostics, targeted therapeutics and artificial intelligence solutions to Find, Fight and Follow serious medical conditions, announced today it has acquired the exclusive, worldwide rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize NTI-1309, an innovative PET oncology imaging agent from Noria Therapeutics, Inc.
NTI-1309 targets fibroblast activation protein (FAP), a target with potential broad imaging applicability and targeting implications in oncology. FAP is overexpressed in the tumor microenvironment, specifically in tumor-associated fibroblasts, which are believed to modulate tumor progression and immune response. Given its expression in tumors coupled with low expression in normal tissue, FAP has the potential to become an important biomarker for precision medicine in cancer. Already a focus of significant research by academics and the pharmaceutical industry, a FAP biomarker has potential to address unmet medical needs and to impact the clinical management of stroma-dense tumors, such as breast, colon, lung and pancreatic cancer.
Under terms of the agreement, Noria will drive the early clinical development of NTI-1309, leveraging its experience with early-stage imaging development. Upon completion of the Phase 1 study, NTI-1309 will be integrated into Lantheus’ portfolio of imaging biomarkers and included in the offering to academic centers and pharmaceutical companies for use in oncology drug development programs. Simultaneously, Lantheus will assess options for bringing this important biomarker to market through Lantheus-sponsored trials.
“Lantheus is committed to advancing innovative imaging biomarker solutions to find, fight and follow cancer,” said Etienne Montagut, Senior Vice President of Corporate Development at Lantheus. “We believe FAP is a promising target for cancer imaging and has broad potential to inform diagnosis and staging, to guide patient selection for therapy, and to monitor response to treatment across multiple tumor types. This partnership with Noria enables us to progress this development program in a timely fashion, leverage our established leadership in imaging and state of the art artificial intelligence, and position us to monetize this biomarker offering, which has the potential to unlock deep, data-driven insights to inform R&D and clinical decision-making.”
“The Noria team is excited to partner with a proven leader in imaging diagnostics with the experience and resources to advance this development program. Noria is pleased to have been entrusted by Lantheus to continue the development of NTI-1309, leveraging our platform and very experienced team,” said Allan M. Green, MD, PhD, JD, Co- Founder and CEO of Noria Therapeutics, Inc.
Terms of the transaction include an upfront license and development fee to Noria, certain development and regulatory milestones, and royalties if NTI-1309 is commercialized.
About Lantheus Holdings, Inc.
Lantheus Holdings, Inc. is the parent company of Lantheus Medical Imaging, Inc., Progenics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and EXINI Diagnostics AB and an established leader and fully integrated provider of innovative imaging diagnostics, targeted therapeutics and artificial intelligence solutions to Find Fight and Follow® serious medical conditions. Lantheus provides a broad portfolio of products, including the echocardiography agent DEFINITY® Vial for (Perflutren Lipid Microsphere) Injectable Suspension; TechneLite® (Technetium Tc99m Generator), a technetium-based generator that provides the essential medical isotope used in nuclear medicine procedures; AZEDRA® for the treatment of certain rare neuroendocrine tumors; and RELISTOR® for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation, which is partnered with Bausch Health Companies, Inc. The Company is headquartered in North Billerica, Massachusetts with offices in New York, New Jersey, Canada and Sweden. For more information, visit www.lantheus.com.
About Noria Therapeutics, Inc.
Noria Therapeutics, Inc. is a research and development company managed by experienced radiopharmaceutical development leaders and focused on the development of novel targeted alpha therapeutics and theranostic agents. It has exclusive world-wide rights to technology licensed from Weill Cornell Medical College, Johns Hopkins University and the University of Heidelberg. It is headquartered in New York City.
Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, that are subject to risks and uncertainties and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements may be identified by their use of terms such as “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “potential,” “will” and other similar terms. Such forward-looking statements are based upon current plans, estimates and expectations that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to materially differ from those described in the forward-looking statements. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation that such plans, estimates and expectations will be achieved. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained herein, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law. Risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to materially differ from those described in the forward-looking statements include (i) expectations for future clinical trials, the timing and potential outcomes of clinical studies and filings and other interactions with regulatory authorities; (ii) the safety and efficacy of NTI-1309; (iii) regulatory risks related to NTI-1309; (iv) academic centers and pharmaceutical companies receptivity to NTI-1309 for use in oncology drug development programs; ; (v) the intellectual property protection of NTI-1309; (vi) our dependence upon third parties for the manufacture and supply of NTI-1309; and (vii) the risk and uncertainties discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (including those described in the Risk Factors section in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q).
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