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TEKNOKONVERGENS-Teknologikonvergens - grensesprengende forskning og radikal innovasjon

Product maturation of the Node Nanoparticle (NNP) technology for treatment of metastatic cancer

Alternative title: Produktutvikling av Node Nanoparticle (NNP) for behandling av metastatisk kreft

Awarded: NOK 16.0 mill.

Node Pharma develops therapy for cancer patients that lack effective treatment options. In this project, we aim to finalize the nonclinical development of our lead candidate to prepare for human safety studies. The drug compound is based on our Node nanoparticles (NNP) platform for targeted alpha therapy (TAT). TAT is the specific delivery of alpha emitting radioisotopes to target cells. The alpha particles emitted only travel 5-10 cells (0.1 millimeter) in tissue and leads to death of the affected cells. Efficiently eradicating target cells locally without affecting healthy tissue will save patients and ensure good quality of life after treatment. NNPs are promising candidates for TAT due to their ability to simultaneously bind radioactive emitters and cancer cells to effectively bring the radiation sources to the tumor. This approach allows for systemic treatment with significantly less side effects for the patient. This development project will bring one or several candidates from lab to clinic, which demands a substantial characterization of quality and process parameters, and in vivo safety and effect studies. To enable the drug development, we are working in close collaboration with our oncology partner at the Oslo University Hospital and world-leading experts in radiopharmacy. Node Pharma is actively pursuing collaborations with key opinion leaders and clinicians to further improve our development program.

In this proposed project, Node Pharma aims to finalize non-clinical development of our lead candidate for treatment of metastatic cancer in close collaboration with world-leading scientists in oncology and radiopharmacy. Our drug candidate are based on antibodies linked to a carrier compound that can bind and hold on to radioisotopes. The antibodies are used to bring the radioisotopes into close proximity of cancer cells, resulting in local delivery of high-energy radiation - killing the cancer and not the healthy surrounding tissue. The systemic treatment with a targeting unit can be highly effective for patients with metastatic tumors, otherwise difficult to reach without detrimental side effects. Alpha emitters have a relative short penetration length and inflict DNA damage which is more potent relative to the alternative beta emitters used today. Thus, alpha emitters delivered to the correct tissue result in specific and effective cancer eradication. The major limitation with targeted alpha therapy today is the lack of a good carrier capable of holding on to certain clinical relevant alpha emitters in the body leading to leakage and severe side effects. In this project, we will characterize the manufacturing process for the production of a drug quality batch (according to good laboratory practice (GLP)) and finalize nonclinical effect safety studies.

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TEKNOKONVERGENS-Teknologikonvergens - grensesprengende forskning og radikal innovasjon

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