Press release
Monopar and NorthStar Announce Expanded Radiopharma Program, Positive Preclinical Results, and Visibility Toward Human Trials
WILMETTE, Ill. and BELOIT, Wis., Feb. 27, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Monopar Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: MNPR) (Wilmette, Ill.) and NorthStar Medical
About this update from Monopar Therapeutics Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"WILMETTE, Ill. and BELOIT, Wis., Feb. 27, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Monopar Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: MNPR) (Wilmette, Ill.) and NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes, LLC (Beloit, Wis.), today announced an expansion of their radiopharmaceutical collaboration along with a new radiolabeled MNPR-101 imaging candidate designated as MNPR-101-Zr. Based on promising recently generated preclinical imaging results with MNPR-101-Zr showing high uptake across multiple tumor types, the companies also committed to additional funding with the aim of initiating a first-in-human imaging study with MNPR-101-Zr as early as the end of this year. MNPR-101-Zr is a zirconium-89 labeled version of MNPR-101, a highly selective antibody against the urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR). Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of preclinical mouse models for triple-negative breast, colorectal, and pancreatic tumors displayed high and selective uptake of MNPR-101-Zr in these uPAR-expressing tumors. These proof-of-concept studies provide support for a first-in-human PET imaging study with MNPR-101-Zr and a future therapeutic study using the previously announced actinium-225 labeled radioimmunotherapeutic version of MNPR-101. Overall, the imaging results demonstrate the potential utility of MNPR-101 as a precision targeting agent for both imaging and therapy in multiple cancer indications. “We are excited about these recent developments, about our expanded partnership with NorthStar, and about our increasing involvement in the radiopharma space. The Monopar team believes this personalized medicine and precision approach to imaging and treating cancer patients holds tremendous promise,” said Chandler Robinson, MD, CEO of Monopar Therapeutics. “Our continued partnership with Monopar shows our commitment to being a leader in the radiopharmaceutical field through the supply of advanced radionuclides as well as specialized development support for promising precision radiopharma programs like MNPR-101,” said Stephen Merrick, CEO of NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes. About Radiopharmaceuticals Radiopharmaceuticals are an emerging class of cancer drugs designed to target a tumor and deliver radiation directly while minimizing damage to normal tissue. Radiopharmaceuticals are formed by attaching radioactive isotopes, a process also known as radiolabeling, to t...