Technology

TRAP: Polyazacycloalkane phosphinates are a unique class of metal complexation agents, so-called chelators. They allow for a particularly rapid attachment of a great variety of radioisotopes to biomolecules, which enables simple and streamlined processes for production of radiopharmaceuticals for clinical purposes. Our signature compound, TRAP, offers an unparalleled performance for radiolabelling with Gallium-68. This metal radionuclide is widely used for positron emission tomography (PET), a clinical imaging technology for non-invasive, quantitative visualization of biological processes in living subjects.

Peptide receptor ligands: The surface of cells is populated with a variety of proteins that recognize specific molecules, for example, peptides. The density of such peptide receptors on the cells in diseased tissue can differ from normal tissue. In case of a higher density, radiolabelled peptides will preferentially accumulate in the diseased spots, allowing to localize them from outside the body, for example, by PET. Our lead compound, Ga-68-Trivehexin, is a strong and selective ligand for a cell surface protein called αvβ6-integrin. As such, it can accumulate in tissue areas characerized by high αvβ6-integrin levels.

Proposed applications: There is compelling evidence that αvβ6-Integrin is found in many of the most dreadful cancers, such as pancreatic carcinoma, cervical-, head-and-neck, and certain lung cancers. Furthermore, it is found in many kinds of fibrotic tissues, above all, in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a slowly progressing, lethal lung disease. Therapies for all of these maladies benefit greatly from an early discovery and, hence, from novel diagnostic methods. Ga-68-Trivehexin is a highly promising clinical candidate for early detection of the aforementioned conditions by PET imaging. Its potential to enable early discovery and, thus, early-onset treatment might lead to longer survival and improved quality of life of patients.