New frontiers in targeted radiopharmaceuticals
We’re harnessing the power of targeted radiation to develop new targets, complement existing therapies and explore new clinical applications. Telix’s aim is to build a pipeline of new product candidates and related platform technologies that can dramatically improve patient outcomes.
The team’s expertise in technology evaluation and product development, along with the Company’s standing as one of the world’s largest dedicated radiopharmaceutical companies has opened up access to a range of new opportunities and partnerships. This research and innovation focus will define the Telix of the future.
1. Targeted alpha therapy (TAT)
Alpha emitters have the potential to deliver very high amounts of energy to cancer tissue whilst the short range can decrease the risk of damage to surrounding healthy cells, increasing the selectivity and potency of the radiation treatment.
Telix’s vision is to develop alpha and beta therapies for the indications it is pursuing, to increase the options available to treat cancer within its portfolio and provide patients with additional options along their treatment journey.
In prostate cancer, the Company is developing TLX591, a beta therapy and the subject of the ProstACT trials but in parallel is also developing TLX592 as a potential alpha therapy, the subject of the CUPID study.
TLX250 is also being explored as an alpha therapy for bladder cancer in the investigator-initiated PERTINENCE study.
2. Combination therapies
Studies have demonstrated that low doses of targeted radiation can potentially overcome immune resistance and “prime” a tumour, making it more susceptible to cancer immunotherapy.
The STARLITE 1 and 2 Phase II investigator-initiated studies of TLX250 in kidney cancer therapy are a world-first clinical evaluation of targeted radiation in combination with checkpoint inhibitors, a form of immunotherapy.
3. Understanding the tumour microenvironment (TME)
Tumours are complex, heterogeneous collections of cells. Their interaction with the surrounding microenvironment further enhances this complexity and can affect how the tumour grows and spreads. By better understanding the TME and harnessing the ability of targeted radiation to target multiple parts of the tumour, Telix’s goal is to develop new approaches which may complement existing treatments and make them more effective.
Telix is working with leaders in the field to progress this research and has in licenced a number of novel radiotracers for translation into new theranostics.
4. Artificial intelligence (AI)
Radioimaging using targeted radiation relies heavily on digital data processing and input from highly trained technicians and radiologists to correctly interpret the data. AI technology, with its ability to recognise complex patterns in large datasets and conduct predictive analysis, has the potential to transform imaging analysis and improve the accuracy of decision making for patients.
With Invicro LLC, Telix is developing an AI platform, to do just this. The platform has been designed to automatically analyse tracer uptake (as healthy or abnormal) and classify lesions as either soft tissue or bone.
5. Radio-guided surgery
Bringing molecular imaging into the operating theatre is a key part of Telix’s portfolio strategy for urologic oncology. Telix is working with Mauna Kea Technologies and Lightpoint Medical to develop advanced image and radio-guided surgical technologies, respectively, to assist urologic surgeons with the real-time identification of cancer cells.