Telix and Mauna Kea Technologies to Expand Collaboration in Urologic Oncology Surgery
Melbourne (Australia) and Paris (France) | 13 November 2023
Telix and Paris-based Mauna Kea Technologies, today announce an expansion of the IRiS (Imaging and Robotics in Surgery) Alliance[1] through a strategic €6.0 million (AU$9.6 million[2]) investment to develop new hybrid pharmaceutical-device products through the combination of Telix’s cancer-targeting agents with Mauna Kea’s Cellvizio® surgical endomicroscopy platform. Telix’s investment in Mauna Kea will further support the development of advanced imaging techniques for minimally invasive (laparoscopic and robotic) surgery, with a specific focus on urologic oncology.
Mauna Kea is a leading medical device company pioneering the development of real-time intraoperative visualisation of cancer tissue during surgery. Mauna Kea’s Cellvizio confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) in vivo cellular imaging platform has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval and is CE Marked for a range of applications.[3] Cellvizio’s regulatory approval landscape and broad clinical experience make it an ideal platform to explore applications of endomicroscopy combined with radiopharmaceutical and fluorescence imaging techniques to build a comprehensive intra-operative imaging toolbox for urology applications. This strategic investment is synergistic with Telix’s current diagnostic radiopharmaceutical portfolio as well as its recent Lightpoint and Dedicaid GmbH acquisitions.[4],[5]
When used pre-operatively, Telix’s radiopharmaceutical imaging agents such as TLX591-CDx (Illuccix®) or TLX250-CDx (Zircaix®)[6] potentially enable improved surgical planning to determine the location and extent of disease. Lightpoint’s SENSEI®, a radio-guided surgical probe works in conjunction with suitable cancer-seeking radiotracer agents to enable the intra-operative detection of cancer during a surgical intervention to help accurately answer the question, “where is the cancer?” In a complementary fashion, Mauna Kea’s Cellvizio platform enables highly localised tissue visualisation through endomicroscopic fluorescence detection to potentially define and confirm surgical margins in real-time.
Reflecting a shared commitment to building a long-term clinical and commercial partnership, Telix will acquire 19.33% of Mauna Kea’s ordinary shares in a reserved private placement with a closing date of 17 November 2023.
Sacha Loiseau, Ph.D., Chairman and CEO of Mauna Kea Technologies, commented: “Cellvizio’s in vivo cellular visualisation platform is an enabling technology across a range of clinical indications that can use molecular imaging to guide surgical intervention in real-time. It is very complementary to Telix’s portfolio of late-stage radiopharmaceutical diagnostics, surgical and AI tools, which combined may create a powerful suite of solutions to help surgeons perform more precise tumour resections and address some of the most complex issues in uro-oncologic treatment. I am pleased to welcome Telix, a global leader in theranostic radiopharmaceuticals and precision medicine as a shareholder and strengthen our commitment to bring our shared vision to fruition.”
Dr Christian Behrenbruch, Managing Director and Group CEO of Telix added, “We are committed to expanding this partnership, which brings together the cutting-edge technologies in targeted radiation, radio-guided surgery and real-time in vivo cellular imaging our respective companies are developing. This further enhances our differentiated and innovative offering in urology and continued commitment to engaging with key opinion leaders in the field to deliver significant improvements in surgical techniques and clinical outcomes, in order to improve the lives of the patients we serve.”
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[1] Telix ASX disclosure 16 December 2020.
[2] AUD/EUR exchange rate of 0.60.
[3] Mauna Kea media release, 3 March 2020.
[4] Telix ASX disclosure 1 November 2023.
[5] Telix ASX disclosure 27 April 2023.
[6] Nominated brand name for TLX250-CDx subject to final regulatory approval.