Bicycle Therapeutics has announced significant advancements in its radiopharmaceutical program, highlighted by the validation of MT1-MMP as a novel target for cancer therapy. The company presented its findings at the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) 2024 Congress in Hamburg, Germany.
The data showcased the potential of Bicycle Radionuclide Conjugates (BRC®) for radiopharmaceutical applications, demonstrating optimized radioisotope delivery. Bicycle's CEO, Kevin Lee, emphasized the company's commitment to leveraging its bicyclic peptide technology to address areas of high unmet need for patients. "The exciting data presented at EANM underscore the potential of our Bicycle Radionuclide Conjugates to deliver a range of isotopes to novel cancer targets," Lee stated.
Expanding the Radiopharmaceutical Pipeline
In line with its radiopharmaceuticals strategy, Bicycle Therapeutics has selected tumor antigen EphA2 as its second BRC target. To support this expansion, the company has signed a letter of intent with Eckert & Ziegler, a leading isotope technology company, to secure a reliable supply of radioisotopes and facilitate the development and manufacturing of BRC molecules.
Advantages of Bicycle Technology
Bicycle® molecules are engineered with properties suited for radioisotope delivery, including low molecular weight, high selectivity and affinity for their intended target, and rapid systemic clearance. According to Michael Skynner, CTO of Bicycle Therapeutics, the data presented at EANM demonstrate the platform's ability to identify high-quality binders to important cancer targets. "We believe the ability to optimise the biodistribution properties of our molecules, significantly reducing kidney retention while retaining rapid, selective uptake in tumours, position Bicycle Radionuclide Conjugates as a potentially best-in-class approach for targeted radionuclide therapy," Skynner noted.
Targeting MT1-MMP
MT1-MMP is the first target for radiopharmaceutical development being pursued by Bicycle Therapeutics, given its expression in various solid tumors, including non-small cell lung cancer, oesophageal cancer, and triple-negative breast cancer.
