Bristol gets a new prostate cancer target

Bristol-Myers Squibb signalled its intent in radiopharmaceuticals with 2023’s $4.1bn purchase of RayzeBio, and now it’s expanding, via a much smaller licensing deal with the Philogen subsidiary Philochem. BMS is paying $350m up front to gain worldwide rights to OncoACP3, which seems to be a catch-all term for Philogen’s diagnostics and therapeutics against ACP3 (also known as PAP). According to OncologyPipeline, there are no clinical-stage competitors pursuing this target, but the ill-fated Dendreon's Provenge works by stimulating a T-cell response against tumour cells expressing PAP. Philogen already has a phase 1 under way, testing a radiotracer employing the isotope gallium-68. The group also said it’s been carrying out IND-enabling studies of a therapeutic based on actinium-225. RayzeBio’s portfolio is also centred around actinium, an alpha emitter that’s grabbing increasing industry interest. RayzeBio, which operates as a Bristol subsidiary, is already taking a dual diagnostic/therapeutic approach with the GPC3-targeting RYZ811 and RYZ801 in liver cancer, but its lead asset is the therapeutic RYZ101, which hits SSTR2, like Novartis’s approved lutetium-based Lutathera. Meanwhile, the prostate cancer field is getting crowded, with companies chasing various targets and modalities, so OncoACP3 will have to produce something special to stand out.

RayzeBio’s radiopharmaceuticals pipeline

Note: GEP-NETs=gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours; Source: OncologyPipeline & clinicaltrials.gov.