ABK Biomedical Partners with University of Missouri Research Reactor

Terbium-161 (¹⁶¹Tb) is an emerging therapeutic radionuclide being explored in targeted radionuclide therapy for cancer treatment. It has a half-life of about 6.9 days and is produced in nuclear reactors by irradiating enriched gadolinium-160 targets. What makes it scientifically interesting is the type of radiation it emits. Terbium-161 releases beta particles that can travel up to a few millimeters in tissue, which helps destroy not only the targeted tumor cell but also nearby cancer cells through a cross-fire effect. In addition, it emits conversion and Auger electrons, which travel only nanometer to micrometer distances. These deposit their energy very locally and can cause very concentrated DNA damage inside the cell. This combination means terbium-161 works across different biological scales. It can affect larger tumor regions while also delivering very precise damage at the cellular and even subcellular level. This is particularly important for small tumor clusters and micrometastases, where other therapies may be less effective. From a chemistry point of view, terbium behaves like other lanthanides and can be easily attached to targeting molecules using chelators such as DOTA and DOTAGA. This allows it to be paired with existing targeting systems like PSMA ligands, which are already used in prostate cancer imaging and therapy. Once injected, the radiolabeled compound binds to PSMA on cancer cells and is taken into the cell, where radiation then causes DNA damage leading to cell death. Current early-phase studies include: - VIOLET trial: ¹⁶¹Tb-PSMA-I&T in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer - PROGNOSTICS trial: dose-escalation study of ¹⁶¹Tb-SibuDAB - Additional compounds like ¹⁶¹Tb-RAD402 are also under clinical evaluation Overall, terbium-161 represents an interesting shift in radiopharmaceutical therapy. It brings together broader tissue-level radiation with highly localized cellular damage in one radionuclide. The next step will be confirming early findings in larger clinical trials and solving production and standardization challenges so it can be more widely used in practice. #Tb-161 #Radiopharmacy #Theranostics #CancerTherapy #RadioisotopeTherapy.

Why do so many brain cancer drugs fail in clinical trials despite promising preclinical data? The answer often lies in the models used — and Dynamic42 GmbH and EPO are now working to change that. Their new collaboration brings human-based organ-on-chip technology into glioblastoma research, with a focus on the blood–brain barrier. The article details the collaboration structure, the science behind it, and where you can meet both teams in person. Read now: https://lnkd.in/dcKqf4gV Dynamic42 GmbH EPO Experimental Pharmacology & Oncology Berlin-Buch GmbH Thomas Sommermann Jens Hoffmann Dr. Juliane Fischer

Radioligand therapies are rapidly emerging as a transformative innovation in oncology, combining molecular targeting with radioactive isotopes to deliver radiation directly to tumor cells while sparing healthy tissues. This precision-driven approach has already demonstrated significant clinical impact, particularly in prostate cancer and neuroendocrine tumors, where it has improved survival outcomes and offered new hope for patients with advanced disease. Building on this success, ongoing research is expanding the application of radioligand therapies into additional indications such as breast cancer, thyroid cancer, brain tumors, and hematologic malignancies. The integration of theranostics and precision medicine is further enhancing treatment personalization and optimizing patient outcomes. With the FDA approvals of beta-emitting therapies LUTATHERA and PLUVICTO, Novartis has established itself as a leader in the radioligand therapy space, supported by a strong pipeline that includes over 15 ongoing or planned clinical trials and multiple next-generation candidates. However, competition is intensifying, with major players such as AstraZeneca, Bayer, Eli Lilly and Company, Curium Pharma, and ITM Isotope Technologies Munich SE actively advancing their own programs. From a commercial standpoint, radioligand therapies represent a rapidly expanding segment within oncology, driven by increasing investments in radiopharmaceutical manufacturing, nuclear medicine infrastructure, and clinical development. As technological innovation and clinical validation continue to progress, radioligand therapies are expected to play a central role in shaping the future of cancer care through more targeted, effective, and personalized treatment approaches. Dive deep into the detailed assessment of the key applications of RLTs at: https://lnkd.in/gHyeGmsJ #PharmaTrends #HealthcareAnalytics #MarketInsights #PharmaInnovation #Biotech #LifeSciences #DrugDevelopment #ClinicalTrials

✨ Excited to share our latest publication! Our work has been accepted and published in the Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology. 🎉 In this study, we developed branched DNA (bDNA) and tetrahedron DNA (tDNA) nanostructures functionalized with antimiRs to enhance the delivery of curcumin (Cur)—a promising therapeutic molecule limited by poor solubility and cellular uptake. 🔬 We demonstrate that Cur effectively binds to DNA nanostructures, improving its stability and significantly enhancing anticancer activity through better tumor suppression. 💡 This work highlights the potential of DNA nanotechnology-based platforms for targeted drug delivery and combinatorial regulation of oncogenic miRNAs—opening new avenues in cancer therapeutics. 🙏 Heartfelt thanks to my mentors Prof. Umakanta Subudhi and Prof. Bhabani Sankar Jena, and Dr. Kajal Sundaray for their invaluable guidance and support. #DrugDelivery #DNANanotechnology #CancerResearch #Curcumin #miRNA #Nanomedicine #ResearchPublication

IntoDNA revealed two novel DNA repair assays at AACR 2026. Read why sSTRIDE-NER and sSTRIDE-PARP1 could matter for oncology biomarker research. #intoDNA #AACR2026 #PrecisionOncology #CancerDiagnostics #Biomarkers #DNADamageResponse #PARP1 #OncologyResearch #TranslationalMedicine #CancerTrials intoDNA

Convergent Therapeutics, Inc.'s Dr. Philip Kantoff and Plus Therapeutics, Inc.'s Dr. Marc Hedrick discuss how unmet medical needs, maturing isotope supply chains and innovative delivery are positioning targeted radiation as oncology’s next big platform. #insights #radiotherapeutics #oncology #biospace https://hubs.li/Q049d60p0

🔬 Targeting Precision: A New Frontier for CAR-T in Solid Tumors through Novel Antigen Strategy: CD44 Variant Targeting 🧬 A new study from The Chinese University of Hong Kong published in Molecular Therapy: Oncology highlighting continued innovation in solid tumor CAR-T therapy. This work explores CAR-T cells targeting a tumor-specific CD44 variant (CD44v) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)—a setting where conventional CAR-T approaches have historically struggled due to tumor heterogeneity, antigen specificity, and the immunosuppressive microenvironment. 📊 Highlights • Identification of CD44v as a promising tumor-associated antigen with improved selectivity • Engineering of CAR-T cells capable of recognizing this variant and mediating anti-tumor activity • Demonstration of enhanced tumor targeting and efficacy in preclinical HCC models 🚀 Solid tumors remain one of the biggest frontiers for cell therapy. This study reinforces a critical theme—antigen precision is everything. By focusing on tumor-specific splice variants rather than broadly expressed antigens, we may unlock safer and more effective CAR-T strategies for solid tumors. 🌉 It’s another step toward bridging the gap between hematologic success and solid tumor reality. 📚 Access to the paper through https://lnkd.in/eiB6y8qU ⭐️ At Byterna Therapeutics, we are developing a novel class of cmRNA therapeutics to achieve "Safe, Effective, Accessible, Affordable (SEAA)" CAR-based cell therapies for global patients. For more information, please refer to https://lnkd.in/e7uBAMci #CellTherapy #CART #Oncology #GeneTherapy #Immunotherapy #Biotech #TeamByterna #ByternaTx #InvivoCART

Racura Oncology presented preclinical mechanism of action data at the 2026 AACR Annual Meeting in San Diego, demonstrating how (E,E)-bisantrene binds to and stabilises G-quadruplex structures in the c-MYC gene promoter region to silence MYC expression across multiple cancer cell lines. The data validates the therapeutic mechanism supporting Racura's Phase 3 AML programme and two Phase 1a/b solid tumour trials. 📋 Announcement Highlights: 🔹 (E,E)-bisantrene binds to c-MYC G4 with 208 nM dissociation constant and 1.5-fold selectivity over mutant dsDNA 🔹 Treatment suppressed c-MYC expression within 2 hours in breast and lung cancer cells at EC50 concentrations of 322.5 nM to 518.1 nM 🔹 Nuclear magnetic resonance confirmed 2:1 binding stoichiometry (two drug molecules per G4 structure) 🔹 RNA-sequencing showed transcriptomic profile similar to CX-5461 (Pidnarulex), a known G4-binding comparator under investigation 🔹 Data supports current Phase 3 AML programme and Phase 1a/b trials in EGFRm NSCLC (with osimertinib) and solid tumours (with doxorubicin) Dr Sumit Sahni, Racura Oncology Senior Scientist, explained: "I sincerely thank my preclinical team colleagues and our valued collaborators for their outstanding work that has uncovered the primary mechanism by which (E,E)-bisantrene exerts its anticancer activity." Racura's composition of matter IP filings provide 20 years of patent protection over (E,E)-bisantrene. The mechanism of action data de-risks the scientific thesis across all three clinical programmes simultaneously, as MYC dysregulation is implicated in multiple cancer types. Found this insightful? Hit 'like' and follow for updates on Racura Oncology's Phase 3 AML programme and multi-indication clinical development strategy. 🔗 Read the full mechanism of action breakdown and clinical trial details: https://lnkd.in/gT6wZZkC

Radiopharmaceutical therapy is moving fast - but our preclinical models are still catching up. That is where Patient-derived xenograft (PDX)-derived tumoroids come in. These PDX-derived 3D tumoroids (PDT) are grown directly from PDX tissue and maintained in specialized media free of extracellular matrix, preserving the genetic profile, heterogeneity, and architecture of the original cancer. This means they capture real world target expression, resistance mechanisms, and microenvironmental features that 2D cell lines simply miss. Co-clinical and organoid guided trial design are emerging in oncology and could logically be extended to radiopharmaceutical therapy in upcoming studies. For radioligand therapy and theranostic drug discovery, this opens several advantages: - Higher translatability of target validation and efficacy data, because you test on models that retain donor specific mutations and gene expression patterns. - More predictive dose–response and combination studies, integrating radionuclide properties with realistic tumor architecture and hypoxia. - Compatibility with high throughput screening and high content imaging, enabling functional readouts of DNA damage, cell death, and off target effects in 3D. - A bridge toward personalized radioligand therapy, by linking patient derived tumoroid response profiles with imaging and clinical outcomes. If you are developing targeted radiopharmaceuticals, discovery platforms that combine patient derived tumoroids, quantitative imaging, and robust dosimetry will be key to selecting the right targets, isotopes, and combinations earlier in development. If you are working in radiotheranostics or precision oncology and interested in integrating tumoroid models into your discovery workflow, we will be happy to connect and exchange experiences. If you are attending the AACR, the team would be happy to explain more. Reach out to Carsten, Ian, Frederikke, or Fabian or book a meeting with us and find our more about our presence at the AACR via https://lnkd.in/eTiqYNE4   #PDX #oncology #radiopharmaceuticals #drugdevelopment #3Dtumoroids #AACR2026

RedHill's Opaganib Enhances Efficacy of Neuroblastoma Chemo Combination and Augment Anti-Tumor Immunity in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer in Preclinical Studies - New Data Presented at AACR 2026 #CPIX #Healthcare #Investing https://lnkd.in/eGcT2ez9