Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and AVEO Oncology Enter Research Collaboration Agreement to Develop First-in-Class Actinium-225 ErbB3 Targeting Radiotherapy for Solid Tumors

Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and AVEO Oncology announced that they have entered into a research collaboration to develop and study a first-in-class antibody radio-conjugate (ARC) targeting ErbB3, also known as HER3. Actinium will utilize its AWE technology platform and extensive radiotherapy know-how to conjugate one of AVEO’s ErbB3 targeted antibodies, with the potent alpha-emitting radioisotope Actinium-225 (Ac-225).

“Actinium has amassed extensive clinical experience, technical know-how and research capabilities for the development of next-generation targeted radiotherapies that we are excited to bring to this collaboration with AVEO, which has a portfolio of high-affinity antibodies and is currently commercializing FOTIVDA (tivozanib) in advanced RCC. We believe ErbB3 is a validated and differentiated target that is aptly suited for radio-conjugate development. Using our AWE platform, we will harness the powerful Ac-225 payload to enhance targeted cell killing against a target that is overexpressed in a number of cancers that are difficult to treat with traditional oncology therapies. A member of the epidermal growth factor family of receptors, ErbB3 has been gaining increasing recognition as a validated targeted, we are committed to rapidly advance and evaluate this novel Ac-225 ErbB3 targeted radiotherapy together with AVEO,” said Sandesh Seth, Chairman and CEO of Actinium.

“While we focus on the commercialization of FOTIVDA in advanced RCC,, we are pleased to announce this collaboration with Actinium in an effort to leverage our high-affinity antibody program to expand our robust portfolio with a potential first-in-class targeted radiotherapy ,” said Michael Bailey, president and chief executive officer of AVEO. “We are excited to advance this ErbB3 targeted compound which is expressed in multiple solid tumors and is the third in the family of clinically validated ErbB targets.”

Actinium’s AWE technology platform has created a Ac-225 CD38 targeting ARC using the blockbuster myeloma antibody daratumumab (Darzalex), in collaboration with EpicentRx for targeted radiotherapy CD47-SIRPα immunotherapy combinations and in collaboration with Astellas Pharma, to create theranostics for solid tumors. Actinium employs a multidisciplinary approach leveraging its team’s expertise and experience in cancer cell biology, radiochemistry, radiation sciences, immunology and oncology drug development to R&D and collaborations.

AVEO’s ErbB3 targeting antibodies are designed to inhibit both ligand-dependent and ligand-independent ErbB3 signaling. ErbB3 is a receptor that is typically expressed in many human cancers and  has demonstrated preclinical activity in multiple tumor models.