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EUROSTARS-EUROSTARS

E!9133 Development of Affibody based radioimmunotherapy for treatment of multiple myeloma

Alternative title: Utvikling av Affibody-basert radioimmunterapi mot multippel myelom

Awarded: NOK 4.0 mill.

Project Number:

241598

Project Period:

2014 - 2017

Funding received from:

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Multiple myeloma is a non-curable blood cancer. In 2010 74.000 people died, globally, of the disease. The goal of this project is to make a new medicine, AFFILUTIN; that can treat multiple myeloma more efficiently and with less side effects than todays treatments. AFFILUTIN consists of a small molecule that binds specifically to a surface moiety of cancer cells, and a radioactive metal that will irradiate the cancer cells from within the body. AFFILUTIN will be injected into the blood of the patients and irradiate the cancer cells with minimal damage to surrounding healthy normal tissues. Cancer cell targeting molecules are developed in iterative rounds of selection and optimization to create molecules with best possible binding properties for specific delivery of radiation. Promising tumour seeking capability of derived molecules is confirmed in an animal model of multiple myeloma, encouraging transition into expanded production and further analyses on their therapeutic effect in an animal model.

The underlying idea for value creation is to research and develop a unique breakthrough therapy of MM, a cancer of plasma cells in the blood. MM is not curable with current available treatment and there was an increase in mortality rate, globally, from 49 ,000 in 1990 up to approximately 74,000 deaths in 2010. Our developed drug product, named AFFILUTIN, will potentially have greater effectiveness and fewer side effects than the products available today. MM is not curable with current treatment. It is a c ancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cells normally responsible for producing antibodies. The goal of this project is to develop a nanovector by conjugating a beta-particle emitting radionuclide to a tumour seeking carrier (affibody). The treatm ent would be effective on single cells and clusters of cells in the lymph nodes and should be excellently suited for treating MM. Malignant tumors can be irradiated with minimal damage to surrounding healthy normal tissue by injecting the nanovector into the blood of patients. This technology aims to prolong progression free survival and improve the quality of life for people who suffer from hematologic cancer, in particular multiple myeloma.

Funding scheme:

EUROSTARS-EUROSTARS