Private clinical-stage biotech company Ariceum Therapeutics has opened a new laboratory at its Berlin headquarters equipped with new resources to streamline research and development of next-generation isotopes used in diagnostic PET and SPECT imaging as well as alpha and beta therapy radioisotopes, for neuroendocrine and other hard-to-treat cancers.

Started in 2021, the company holds the rights to manufacture 177Lu-satoreotide tetraxetan, a radiopharmaceutical intended to be used as a theranostic pair that targets the somatostatin type 2 (SSTR2) receptor overexpressed in neuroendocrine tumors. The company is also developing an iodine-radiolabeled PARP-inhibitor (rPARPi), ATT001, which is scheduled to enter clinical development in 2024.

Until now, the company has relied on external radio pharma facilities for the development of its radiopharmaceuticals. The new laboratory space is more than 200 square meters and has room for another 60 square meters of changing lock and storage space. In it, Ariceum will be able to perform on-site processes, methods, validation, and formulation development as well as preliminary stability analysis of its radiolabeled compounds.

It will initially be used for radiochemistry and in vitro activities and includes a gamma counter to measure radioactivity in organs. Non-clinical pharmacology studies will also be performed for detailed characterization of its first-in-class development candidates, and the lab will act as a state-of-the-art research hub to advance R&D collaborations and identify exciting new pipeline candidates.

"The lab will help accelerate timelines of all projects at the discovery and preclinical stages. With in-house labeling capacity, Ariceum will have the ability to screen and optimize more peptides at a faster pace. Ariceum will conduct non-clinical pharmacology studies such as binding activity, cytotoxicity tests, and ex-vivo analysis of organs in the new laboratory," Serge Sagodira, chief business officer at Ariceum Therapeutics, told HCB News.

Ariceum acquired all rights to satoreotide from French biopharmaceutical business Ipsen, which remains a shareholder in the company, and ATT001 through its acquisition of Theragnostics, a private British biopharmaceutical manufacturer, in June 2023. The company is based in Germany and has locations in Switzerland, Australia, the U.K., and the U.S. Its specialist investors include EQT Life Sciences (formerly LSP), HealthCap, Pureos Bioventures, Andera Partners, and Earlybird Venture Capital.

Molecular Imaging Homepage