Akiram Therapeutics, a Swedish clinical-stage biotech company specializing in molecular radiotherapy, and ITM Isotope Technologies Munich SE (ITM), a leading radiopharmaceutical biotech company, has announced a supply agreement for non-carrier-added (n.c.a.) Lutetium-177 (Lu-177 or 177Lu) to support the development of 177Lu-AKIR001 (AKIR001), a targeted antibody-radionuclide conjugate with first-in-class potential, currently in clinical testing for the treatment of CD44v6-expressing solid tumors.
Under the terms of the agreement, ITM will provide its high-quality n.c.a. Lu-177 for use in Akiram’s ongoing clinical trial for AKIR001, the company’s lead radiopharmaceutical candidate. Lu-177 is one of the most widely used medical radioisotopes in targeted radionuclide therapy and serves as the active payload in AKIR001.
Reliable access to this isotope is essential for clinical development, and ITM’s position as a leading global supplier will support the continued advancement of the program. Additional details of the agreement have not been disclosed.
We are pleased to partner with ITM, a leading global producer and supplier of n.c.a. Lu-177, as we continue advancing AKIR001 through clinical development. This agreement helps secure an important component for the continued development of AKIR001 and marks a significant step in advancing the program designed to address a primary driver of aggressive cancers.
Marika Nestor, chief executive officer of Akiram Therapeutics
AKIR001 is a targeted radiopharmaceutical drug candidate that combines the therapeutic radioisotope n.c.a. Lu-177 with a proprietary antibody targeting CD44v6, a cancer marker associated with several aggressive tumor types.
The approach is designed to deliver radiation selectively to tumor cells while limiting exposure to healthy tissue. The candidate is currently being evaluated in a Phase I clinical trial at Stockholm’s Karolinska University Hospital in patients with irresectable or metastatic CD44v6-positive solid tumors, including lung, head and neck, thyroid, and gynecological cancers.
At ITM, we remain committed to advancing and enabling the development of innovative radiopharmaceuticals for hard-to-treat cancers. This agreement with Akiram allows us to provide a dependable, high-quality source of n.c.a. Lu-177 for their clinical trials and research that may, in time, prove genuinely transformative. We are pleased to support the continued clinical development of AKIR001 through our manufacturing expertise and consistency of supply, and we wish Akiram every success as they advance this promising therapy.
Dr. Andrew Cavey, chief executive officer at ITM.
Akiram is leading the development of molecular radiotherapy as a novel treatment for CD44v6 expressing cancers. This innovative approach has demonstrated exceptional efficacy in treating various other types of cancer as well. Molecular radiotherapy combines the advantages of molecular targeting with the therapeutic effect of radiation.
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Image by Akiram Theurapeutics and DC studio, Magnific – the concept of molecular therapy. The image (insed) illustrates an antibody delivering radiation to a cancer cell by binding to a protein highly expressed in cancer cells while not binding to normal cells where this protein is not highly expressed.
