Full Press Release Details
Biosciences and Pierre Fabre Laboratories Announce Oncology Research Collaboration
to Advance use of Phospholipid Drug Conjugate (PDC) Platform for Targeted Delivery of a selection of Pierre Fabre Cytotoxics
CASTRES, France, Dec. 16th, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -Pierre Fabre, the third largest French pharmaceutical company,
and Cellectar Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:CLRB), an oncology-focused biotechnology company, today announce a research collaboration
designed to combine Cellectar's proprietary PDC delivery platform with a selection of Pierre Fabre's proprietary cytotoxics.
These new Small-Molecule-Drug-Conjugate products (SMDCs) are designed to exhibit high selectivity towards cancer cells in order
to expand therapeutic index and provide improved clinical performance to otherwise highly potent agents.
Drug Conjugates (PDCs) are a new class of small-molecules that employ Cellectar's extensively validated phospholipid ether-based
cancer targeting and delivery vehicle. The PDC platform possesses the ability to incorporate diverse oncologic payloads for targeted
delivery to a broad range of solid and liquid tumours, including brain metastases, and to cancer stem cells.
objective of the research collaboration is to co-design a library of constructs and to achieve in-vivo Proof-of-Concept
of the superiority of these PDCs to the corresponding naked payloads. Thanks to their remarkable lipid rafts-mediated distribution
properties, PDCs are expected to provide enhanced therapeutic indices to otherwise highly potent payloads through targeted delivery
will provide the payloads and its know-how in the design of natural product-derived active conjugates, as well as its prior expertise
provide its proprietary PDC Platform technology and will be in charge of conducting the drug discovery program up to preclinical
stage and, should it be successful, to clinical evaluation.
has been granted the option to license any, or all, of the new drug conjugates developed as part of the research collaboration,
while Cellectar will own all intellectual property (IP) associated with the new drug conjugates.
are very pleased to be working with Pierre Fabre, an internationally respected and highly innovative pharmaceutical company with
an impressive oncology research and development program," said Jim Caruso, president and CEO of Cellectar Biosciences.
This collaboration represents further validation of the potential for our PDC delivery platform to provide targeted delivery
of diverse oncologic payloads and is a significant milestone since the introduction of our CTX Program this past August."
are very excited to collaborate with Cellectar Biosciences who has demonstrated high standards of its research engine and uniqueness
of its technology offering", said Laurent Audoly, Head of R&D of Pierre Fabre Pharmaceuticals. "We are
convinced that Cellectar's proprietary technology will provide our cytotoxic molecules with tissue specificity and enhanced
safety which are typically lacking with untargeted agents. This partnership will strengthen our on-going research program in innovative
oncology solutions."
Drug Conjugates (PDCs)
PDC platform has demonstrated highly selective cancer targeting both preclinically in over 60 in vivo cancer models, and
subsequently confirmed clinically in over 10 cancer types. The platform's payload diversity has been validated using cytotoxic
radioisotopes for cancer therapy; PET imaging isotopes for cancer imaging; fluorophores for image-guided surgery, and now the company
has expanded its payload portfolio to chemotherapeutics with further preclinical study of paclitaxel and other non-targeted anti-cancer
agents with both in-house and collaborative R&D efforts.
Pierre Fabre is a French privately-owned
health and beauty care company created in 1961 by Mr. Pierre Fabre. In 2014, global sales reached 2.1 billion across 130
countries. The company is structured around two divisions: Pharmaceuticals (Prescription drugs, Consumer HealthCare) and Dermo-cosmetics
(including the European and Asian market leader Eau Thermale Av ne brand). Pierre Fabre employs some 10,000 people worldwide
and owns subsidiary in 43 countries. In 2014, the company allocated 17 percent of its pharmaceuticals sales to R&D with a focus
on 4 therapeutic areas: oncology, dermatology, CNS and consumer healthcare.
Pierre Fabre's oncology know-how
is based on 3 decades of experience in the discovery, development and global commercialization of innovative cancer drugs including
monoclonal antibodies and natural cytotoxic agents. The company performs its oncology R&D in two major research centres: the
Pierre Fabre Immunology Centre (CIPF) based in Saint-Julien-en-Genevois (France) and the Pierre Fabre Research- Centre (CRPF) located
on the Toulouse Oncopole campus. The latter is officially recognized by the French government as a National Centerof Excellence
for cancer research. For more information on Pierre Fabre, please visit www.pierre-fabre.com.
Cellectar Biosciences, Inc.
Cellectar Biosciences
is developing phospholipid drug conjugates (PDCs) designed to provide cancer targeted delivery of diverse oncologic payloads to
a broad range of cancers and cancer stem cells. Cellectar's PDC platform is based on the company's proprietary phospholipid ether
analogs. These novel small-molecules have demonstrated highly selective uptake and retention in a broad range of cancers. Cellectar's
PDC pipeline includes product candidates for cancer therapy and cancer diagnostic imaging. The company's lead therapeutic PDC,
CLR 131, utilizes iodine-131, a cytotoxic radioisotope, as its payload. CLR 131 is currently being evaluated under an orphan drug
designated Phase 1 study in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. The company is also developing PDCs for targeted
delivery of chemotherapeutics such as paclitaxel (CLR 1603-PTX), a preclinical stage product candidate, and plans to expand its
PDC chemotherapeutic pipeline through both in-house and collaborative R&D efforts. For more information please visit www.cellectarbiosciences.com.
Vice President, Business Development
Cellectar Biosciences, Inc.
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