The START Center for Cancer Research, its preclinical division XenoSTART, and Denmark-based Minerva Imaging have announced an expansion of their decade-long partnership to establish what they describe as the industry's most comprehensive integrated platform for radiopharmaceutical drug development. The collaboration unites XenoSTART's repository of clinically annotated patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models with Minerva Imaging's advanced molecular imaging and radionuclide therapy expertise.
Addressing Growing Market Demand
Radiopharmaceuticals represent one of the fastest-growing areas in oncology, redefining cancer treatment by precisely targeting tumors while sparing healthy tissue. In metastatic prostate cancer, these therapies are already changing standards of care and are now being explored in earlier disease stages and across other high-burden indications such as breast and neuroendocrine tumors. This expansion is driving an urgent need for robust, translational platforms that can shorten development timelines and reduce risk.
"By combining XenoSTART's deep expertise in clinically annotated PDX models with Minerva Imaging's state-of-the-art facilities for radiopharmaceutical drug development, we are delivering the gold standard in translational oncology research to target cancers such as prostate," said Nick Slack, MBE, Chairman and CEO of START. "For sponsors, this means faster, smarter, and more predictable development of life-changing therapies that ultimately bring positive impact to patients who need them most."
Integrated Capabilities
Minerva Imaging operates as a fully integrated contract research organization (CRO) and contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) specialized in radiopharmaceuticals. Leveraging more than two decades of expertise in oncology and molecular imaging, Minerva Imaging provides comprehensive imaging modalities including PET/CT, SPECT/CT, and MRI, advanced orthotopic in-vivo models, and GMP-certified manufacturing infrastructure for radiopharmaceuticals. This integration enables precise validation of therapeutic mechanisms and supports seamless progression of candidates from preclinical evaluation through clinical translation.
"Our mission is to accelerate the development of novel radiopharmaceuticals through advanced imaging, radionuclide therapy expertise, and GMP manufacturing," said Carsten H. Nielsen, PhD, Co-founder and CEO of Minerva Imaging. "By strengthening our collaboration with XenoSTART and START, we are creating a powerful translational bridge for collaborators to move promising therapies from bench to bedside with unprecedented speed and confidence."
Clinically Relevant Models
XenoSTART's PDX models are uniquely differentiated by being derived exclusively from tissue obtained from patients treated across START's global network. These models ensure representation of the most clinically relevant disease states and capture resistance patterns and treatment histories that closely mirror real-world patient populations.
"XenoSTART provides the most predictive preclinical platform in the industry," said Michael Wick, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer of XenoSTART. "Expanding our work with Minerva Imaging ensures that sponsors benefit from seamless integration of these models with advanced radiopharmaceutical development, particularly in prostate cancer where the clinical need is acute."
The expanded partnership positions the organizations to offer a single-source solution spanning discovery, translational research, and manufacturing, with the goal of accelerating discovery, reducing risk, and delivering therapies that matter most to patients. START clinical trial sites have conducted more than 1,000 early-phase clinical trials, including for 45 therapies that were approved by the FDA or EMA.
