Alpha Fusion Inc. and Curadh MTR Inc. announced plans to enter a strategic partnership, including a joint venture to broadly advance the global development of Astatine-211 (At-211) based radiopharmaceuticals. The collaboration combines Alpha Fusion's leading role in At-211 drug discovery and early clinical work in Japan with Curadh's global expertise in radiopharmaceutical development.
The partnership was announced at the World Astatine Community Meeting, where the therapeutic potential for At-211 was highlighted in presentations by the companies' scientific and clinical founders. The joint venture will focus on clinical development of lead products in the US while broadly developing a pipeline of At-211 products.
Clinical Progress and Scientific Leadership
Tadashi Watabe, M.D., Ph.D., FANMB, from the Department of Radiology at the Graduate School of Medicine, University of Osaka, presented "Progress Update on Astatine Clinical Trials in Osaka" as Principal Investigator of the studies. Alison Armour, MD., FRCP., FRCR, Founder and CMO of Curadh, delivered a talk on "Why Astatine Will Be Important for The Future of Molecularly Targeted Radiopharmaceuticals."
Manufacturing and Supply Chain Development
"Alpha Fusion is advancing its pipeline and building a highly efficient supply chain for At-211 using cyclotrons and GMP manufacturing in collaboration with partners across the globe," stated CEO Sunao Fujioka. "Our strategic partnership with Curadh, who has deep expertise in radiopharmaceuticals, will significantly accelerate expansion into the US and global market."
Therapeutic Advantages of Astatine-211
Glenn Kazo, CEO of Curadh, emphasized the unique therapeutic properties of the radioisotope: "This strategic partnership with Alpha Fusion's foundational At-211 drug discovery platform and first-in-human studies strengthens our position in next-generation radiopharmaceuticals. Astatine's unique properties as a halogen emitter with a short half-life makes it one of the most promising alphas for molecularly targeted cancer therapy."
Company Backgrounds
Alpha Fusion Inc. was established to commercialize Astatine drug discovery based on research from Osaka University and the Japan Science and Technology Agency. The company is dedicated to unleashing the therapeutic potential of Astatine therapy in the fast-emerging field of Targeted Alpha Therapy.
Curadh MTR, Inc. focuses on advancing second-generation radiopharmaceuticals through innovative drug design and strategic partnerships combining novel targets and new radioisotopes. The company was founded by Dr. Alison Armour, who led the clinical development of Pluvicto®, described as the world's leading radiopharmaceutical drug.
