NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes, LLC, an innovator in the development, production and commercialization of radiopharmaceuticals used for therapeutic applications and medical imaging, and Ariceum Therapeutics, a private biotech company developing radiopharmaceutical products for the diagnosis and treatment of cancers, have signed a supply agreement for the therapeutic medical radioisotope, actinium-225 (Ac-225).
 
Under the terms of the agreement, NorthStar will provide Ariceum with non-carrier-added (n.c.a.), high purity, Ac-225, a rare and critical isotope that is in high demand, providing Ariceum with an additional clinical source of supply for its evolving pipeline development programs.
 
NorthStar also supplies Ac-225 to Cellectar, Alpha-9 and Convergent Therapeutics.
 
Ariceum will use NorthStar’s Ac-225 to radiolabel its proprietary peptide (SS0110) satoreotide, a first-in-class antagonist of the somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2). Satoreotide is being developed as a ‘theranostic pair’ for the combined diagnosis and targeted radionuclide treatment of multiple indications expressing SSTR2, such as small cell lung cancer (SCLC), pancreatic cancers, Merkel Cell Carcinoma, and other aggressive cancers.
 
“Ariceum’s impressive development portfolio is focused on very aggressive, difficult-to-treat cancers and its early trial results are very exciting,” said Frank Scholz, President and CEO of NorthStar. “At NorthStar, our goal is to reduce or eliminate concerns about adequate availability of Ac-225 for clinical trials and patient medicines, which have held back exploration of powerful new pathways to attack these diseases for the millions of patients who today have limited treatment options available. We are proud to use our expertise and capabilities to provide innovative companies like Ariceum with high purity, n.c.a. Ac-225, that will help make potential new treatment therapies a prospect for the benefit of patients.”
 
Manfred Rüdiger, CEO of Ariceum Therapeutics, commented: “Satoreotide is the first Ac-225 labelled antagonist of the SSTR2 receptor targeting SCLC. The compound is scheduled to enter clinical development in the US as part of a transatlantic trial soon. The compound has demonstrated its potential as a Lutetium-177-labelled version in our ongoing Phase 1b clinical study in end stage-SCLC. Based on NorthStar’s industry leadership and commercial expertise in cutting-edge, accelerator-based radioisotope production technology, we believe that they are a reliable partner to meet Ariceum’s specific needs. In partnership with NorthStar, we look forward to progressing our clinical studies with Ac-225 and accelerating our future commercialization opportunities as we seek to deliver targeted theranostic treatments for patients.”